Smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca) are rare, secretive, well camouflaged and unlikely to be encountered, existing as they do only in several locations in the south of England.
Identification
Smooth snakes are smaller than our other native snakes (adders and grass snakes), growing only 45-55cm long. They are grey-brown in colour with faint darker spots along their back and smooth, flat scales. They are often said to have a heart shaped black marking on the top of their head, as well as a darker stripe running along the side of the head, from the nose, through the eye to the back of the head. This feature is helpful to distinguish the smooth snake from the grass snake which can look similar to the untrained eye.
At first glance, males and females can be difficult to tell apart. Males have a more distinctive orange/yellow colour under the chin, females are grey underneath. The black markings are more distinct on juveniles, particularly around the head.
Habitat and Distribution
Smooth snakes have a highly restricted distribution, they are found only on heathlands in a limited number of sites in southern England. These sites have sandy soils which warm up quickly in the sun and good coverage of heather. Surrey and Dorset have good populations of smooth snakes due to good numbers of other reptiles which the smooth snakes prey upon. Smooth snakes prefer areas containing mature heather, they look remarkably similar to leggy old heather and are highly camouflaged against this backdrop. They rarely bask in the open, preferring to remain concealed within the heather. If disturbed, they are unlikely to move away quickly, instead relying on their excellent camouflage. If they do move away, smooth snakes will not thrash around in the same way a grass snake does, instead, they simply melt away into the heather. Smooth snakes are most likely to be encountered under artificial refuges, placed on heathland for monitoring reptile populations.
What Do Smooth Snakes Get Up to Throughout the Year?
September to April: Smooth snakes can start entering their underground hibernation sites from September and often do not emerge until early April. It is important for snakes to find frost free hibernation sites in order to stop them from freezing during the winter. On emerging from hibernation, groups of snakes can be found basking together near hibernation sites.
May to September: Relatively little is known regarding smooth snake breeding behaviours. Mating occurs in May and the live young are born in September or late August. Usually, between eight and fifteen young are born and they often bask together in groups. While the snakes are active, they mainly eat lizards but can also eat small mammals. The ecology of our smooth snakes is much less understood compared with our more widespread species.
Are Smooth Snakes Dangerous?
Only if you are a small lizard! Smooth snakes are not venomous and pose no risk to humans or pets. They are constrictors, wrapping themselves tightly around their prey to suffocate it before consuming it.
Population Trends
As with much of our wildlife, populations have declined in recent years. Habitat loss and fragmentation are contributing factors. Up to 90% of heathland has been lost from the south of England since the 18th century. Urban sprawl is one critical factor, as well as agricultural intensification, forestry, natural succession, fire and erosion.
With such specific habitat requirements, smooth snakes have suffered as traditional heathland management practices have stopped and the amount of available habitat has dwindled. However, conservation efforts have been successful on several sites, in Dorset in particular. Heathland is now a priority habitat with most heathland sites (particularly those with populations of reptiles) designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or Special Areas of Conservation (SACs).
Smooth snakes are protected under several pieces of European and UK legislation:
- Appendix II of the Bern Convention;
- Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981; and
- Schedule 2 of the Conservation Regulations, 1994.
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