Reptiles Where to find them The Habitat requirements depend on activity - basking, breeding, hunting, resting or hibernating . The following table compares the habitat requirements for each species in our area. The key habitat for the two snakes and the lizard is a sheltered, south facing, secluded basking area* , immediately adjacent to cover. Typically, this is in species-rich, undisturbed, open habitat with a mixture of sparse and dense vegetation - unimproved grassland, edges of woodland, hedgerows, banks, golf course rough areas, railway embankments, quarries, hollows, gullies etc with south-facing slopes.
| Reptile | Habitat requirements for specific activities | ||||
| Hibernation | Cover | Feeding | Breeding | Basking | |
| Adder | Dry Rabbit burrows, tree roots | Rough grassland, scrub, dunes, woodland edge. hedgerows | as Cover -uses venom for catching prey, usually small mammals and lizards | (live young) | * (see above) |
| Grass Snake | Dry Rabbit burrows, tree roots | Rough grassland, scrub, dunes, woodland edge. hedgerows | Requires water - eats amphibians and fish | needs warmth to incubate eggs (eg dung heaps) | * |
| Slow worm | Compost heaps | Compost heaps, under soil, or vegetation | as Cover - eats slugs, earthworms and caterpillars | (live young) | not common |
| Common Lizard | Stone banks,.. | grassland,
embankments stone walls |
as Cover - eats spiders, insects and other invertebrate species | (live young) | * |
The best time to find the snakes and the lizard is while they are basking in preparation for activity. The Slow-worm is less likely to bask, but is frequently disturbed in gardens, especially in compost heaps. The Grass snake is the only one to lay eggs, which are found in rotting vegetation, such as dung heaps. For these reasons, there are preferred times for when to see them