RAUK - Archived Forum - Adder Identification and Sightings

Are you volunteering to update the adder ID page Mick?

I'll get around to it in a few years I expect.

Adders in Decline

In recent years, concern has been expressed that the Adder (Vipera berus) may have experienced serious decline in Kent. Several factors are believed to be responsible for apparent declines in this species. These include: habitat loss, fragmentation of remaining populations, unsympathetic management, direct persecution and public pressure.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), gives Adders protection against deliberate killing and injury. Unfortunately, their habitat is not protected and it is perfectly legal to destroy hibernacula and foraging areas, providing that individual animals are not killed in the process. This results in often poorly conceived attempts to translocate whole Adder populations from proposed development sites.

Although only briefly mentioned in KentÆs Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) 1998, concerns over the AdderÆs status have convinced the Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group, that the snake should be highlighted in KentÆs Red Data Book. The Adder is referenced in the Kent BAP as a æStandard Bearer/Quality Indicator SpeciesÆ for heathland & mire and lowland acid grassland. Adder however are not mentioned in BAP habitats from which the animal is most commonly recorded in Kent.

KRAG believes that although the animal is under-recorded, population declines are real. In order to address these concerns, KRAG launched the 'Adders in Decline' initiative in 2004. Now in its second year the project aims to promote pro-active conservation of Adder by:

Recording the distribution of Adder in Kent - In particular, through identifying Key Sites and important habitat components within each site (e.g. hibernacula).

• Monitoring important populations.

Raising awareness and publicising apparent declines - By running reptile survey training events, publishing habitat management leaflets etc.

http://www.kentarg.org/adders_in_decline.htm