Britain's rarest snake is about to expand its range. In a pioneering wildlife project, the non-venomous smooth snake is to be re-introduced to Devon after a 50-year absence.
Currently found only on lowland heaths in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset, the smooth snake is not only rare, but is probably Britain's most elusive reptile. Grey-brown with black markings, it is secretive and timid, and is glimpsed far less frequently than our other two native snakes, the venomous adder and the harmless grass snake.Historically, smooth snakes were more widespread, but disappeared from a wide area of southern England because of habitat loss. In Devon the last recorded sightings were in the 1950s. However, with the restoration of heathland over the past two decades, conservationists are now hoping to return Coronella austriaca to much of its former range, with Devon at the top of the list.
This summer, experts from the newly-formed charity Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) will collect 10 smooth snakes, under licence, from several well-populated sites in Dorset. The snakes will be taken to a special area of east Devon known as the pebblebed heaths, and released on a heathland nature reserve owned by The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
"This is a tremendously exciting project for us as it marks the beginning of what we hope will be the re-establishment of the species to Devon, and potentially a huge expansion of range for smooth snakes," said Nick Moulton from ARC, a group which was formed earlier this month when the charity Froglife merged with the Herpetological Conservation Trust.
"Historically, much of the former heathland areas have been lost to land use pressures, and the remaining sites are often fragmented and isolated," he said.
"The smooth snake is not very mobile and cannot naturally re-colonise isolated heathland sites. With this re-introduction, all we do is give the animals a helping hand to cross these areas. The East Devon heaths are in superb condition and very well managed, and we believe that the re-introduction has every chance of success."
The smooth snake is a priority species in the UK and the re-introduction is fully supported and licensed by Natural England, the Government's adviser on the natural environment, as well as having the help of the RSPB.
Smooth snake releases will continue every summer for the next few years to establish a healthy self-sustaining population.
Rare snake brought back to heaths
BBC News 29 Jul 09;
A rare species of snake is to be reintroduced in Devon after an absence of 50 years, conservationists said.
Smooth snakes are to be released at an RSPB nature reserve over several years.
The non-venomous and secretive reptile was last recorded in the county in the 1950s. It disappeared after the loss of its natural habitat.
The project involves Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust, the RSPB and Natural England.
The snakes are currently only found on lowland heaths in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset.
But with restoration of suitable heathland habitat in Devon over the past two decades, wildlife experts are hoping to return it to much of its former range.
The snakes will be taken from well-populated sites in Dorset.
Nick Moulton, of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, said the scheme marked the beginning of what is hoped will be a huge expansion of range for the reptile, whose survival was once "hanging on a knife-edge" in the UK.
He said: "Historically, much of the former heathland areas have been lost to many land use pressures and the remaining sites are often fragmented and isolated.
"The smooth snake is not very mobile and, in many cases, cannot naturally re-colonise isolated heath sites.
"With this re-introduction, all we do is give the animals a helping hand to cross these areas.
"The east Devon heaths are in a superb condition and very well-managed and we believe the re-introduction has every chance of success."
East Devon RSPB site manager Toby Taylor said the restoration of the heaths had led to a resurgence of other wildlife associated with the habitat, including Dartford warblers, nightjars and silver studded blue butterflies.
He said: "The return of the smooth snake will really complement this. It's the icing on the cake for us."
Snake reintroduced to Devon after 50 years
The rare smooth snake is to be reintroduced in Devon after an absence of 50 years, conservationists said.
The Telegraph 30 Jul 09;
The snake is currently only found on lowland heaths in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire and Dorset, but with restoration of its heathland habitat over the past two decades wildlife experts are hoping to return it to much of its former range.
The non-venomous and secretive reptile disappeared from much of its range due to the loss of habitat and was last recorded in Devon in the 1950s.
A project by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust and the RSPB, supported by Natural England, will see the release of smooth snakes at an RSPB nature reserve over the next few years.
The snakes will be taken from well-populated sites in Dorset.
Nick Moulton, of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, said the scheme marked the beginning of what is hoped will be a huge expansion of range for the reptile, whose survival was once "hanging on a knife-edge" in the UK.
"Historically, much of the former heathland areas has been lost to many land use pressures and the remaining sites are often fragmented and isolated.
"The smooth snake is not very mobile and in many cases cannot naturally re-colonise isolated heath sites," he said.
"With this re-introduction, all we do is give the animals a helping hand to cross these areas. The east Devon heaths are in a superb condition and very well-managed and we believe the re-introduction has every chance of success."
The RSPB's Toby Taylor, site manager in east Devon, said the restoration of the heaths had led to a resurgence of other wildlife associated with the habitat including Dartford warblers, nightjars and silver studded blue butterflies.
"The return of the smooth snake will really complement this; it's the icing on the cake for us," he said.