How many eggs does an adder lay?

Unlike some snakes, adders do not lay eggs and instead give birth to up to 20 live young in late summer.

1. How many babies do adders have?
2. Do adders lay eggs?
3. What to do if you see an adder?
4. Where do adders hibernate?
5. What time of year do Adders give birth?
6. Can adders climb trees?
7. Do adders come out in the rain?
8. What preys do adders have?
9. Do adders go in water?
10. Do adders live in burrows?
11. When was the last person killed by an adder?
12. Do adders bite?
13. What time of day are adders most active?
14. Are adders active at night?
15. Are there black adders in the UK?

How many babies do adders have?

That means the eggs are fertilized and incubate inside the mother and she gives birth to live young. The gestation period is three to four months. Adders typically give birth to about 12 babies, which are independent soon after birth.

Do adders lay eggs?

Mating takes place in April/May and female adders incubate their eggs internally, rather than laying shelled eggs (which the grass snake does). Adders give birth to around 6 to 20 live young in August or September.

What to do if you see an adder?

Remove jewellery/watches from the bitten limb and loosen clothing if possible. Seek immediate medical attention by dialling 999. Avoid using a tourniquet or trying to suck out the venom as this may make the situation worse.

Where do adders hibernate?

Adders usually hibernate underground, or less often within above-ground structures.

What time of year do Adders give birth?

The Adder's breeding season starts in April/May and then the young emerge in August/September. Unlike most snakes, female Adders do not lay eggs but give birth to live young.

Can adders climb trees?

In some areas (such as Cannock Chase and Hopwas Woods) they can be found basking in trees and children have been bitten while climbing. The Adder is both a capable climber and strong swimmer.

Do adders come out in the rain?

If it's very cold, or dark, or raining heavily, the snakes will not venture out. If it's hot, they will have little need to bask and they will be too quick to see.

What preys do adders have?

Surprisingly, adders are mainly predated on by birds such as corvids, birds of prey (like the buzzard) and pheasants. The smooth snake feeds primarily on other reptiles and so adders are sometimes on the menu. Other predators include mammals such as badgers, foxes and feral cats.

Do adders go in water?

They are very common throughout England and Wales and are usually found in lowland areas near water, in grasslands and in woodland. They are swimmers, and can often be spotted swimming in rivers and ponds.

Do adders live in burrows?

During the winter months when the weather is too cold for them to achieve the necessary metabolic rate for daily functioning, they hibernate under leaves, logs, brushwood and in compost heaps, burrows and hollow trees.

When was the last person killed by an adder?

The last death in the UK from an adder bite was in 1975 when a five-year-old boy was bitten on the ankle in the Trossachs, in Scotland.

Do adders bite?

While the likelihood of being bitten by an adder is extremely small, some people and pets are bitten each year. An adder bite is very rare but when it does happen medical help should be sought immediately. Adder bites are potentially very serious but effective treatment is readily available for people and pets.

What time of day are adders most active?

The majority of bites in dogs seem to occur between April and July, most commonly in the afternoon when the adders are most active.

Are adders active at night?

Night adders (Causus) are small relatively slender vipers found south of the Sahara and are typically less than 1 metre (3 feet) long. They are active at night and feed nearly exclusively on frogs and toads.

Are there black adders in the UK?

The Adder can be found across England, Scotland and Wales, but is absent from Northern Ireland and Eire.