Adders, the only venomous snake native to the UK, could be facing a grave future, with a wildlife specialist warning they could vanish from our countryside by 2032. Kevin James, a countryside warden with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, has raised concerns about these reptiles, suggesting that they are ‘starving to death and dying of stress’. Adders hibernate from October and emerge in the spring, a crucial period for these creatures, Mr. James explains. During this time, they bask in the sunlight, shed their skin, and raise their body temperature. If this process is disturbed, the adders will not eat due to stress, eventually leading to a slow death from starvation. Mr. James urged the public to refrain from disturbing these creatures, giving them space and leaving them alone after they have emerged from hibernation. Despite the temptation to get closer, the snake’s wellbeing must be prioritised, he stressed. The 2019 study by the University of Reading suggested that adders could become virtually extinct from the British countryside by 2032.
This story was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
