Are slow worms rare in the UK?

With long, smooth, shiny, grey or brown bodies, slow worms look very similar to tiny snakes. In fact they are legless lizards and are quite harmless. Although found throughout mainland Britain, they are most common in Wales and south-west England. They are absent from Ireland.

Where can I find slow worms UK?

Slow worms can be found in heathland, tussocky grassland, woodland edges and rides where they can find invertebrates to eat and a sunny patch in which to sunbathe. They are often found in mature gardens and allotments, where they like hunting around the compost heap.

Do slow worms bite humans?

Slow worms are usually not known to be dangerous to humans as they do not bite at all.

What does a slow worm look like in the UK?

While slow worms may look like snakes, they are actually legless lizards. They have a smooth, glossy, grey or brown cylindrical body and, unlike snakes, a flat forked tongue, eyelids and a tail which sheds when under attack. The tail will carry on moving even when it has been shed in order to distract the predator.

Is a slow worm the same as a grass snake?

If you see a slow worm (Anguis fragilis) in your garden, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a snake. But it’s actually a legless lizard, the only such creature native to Britain. Slow worms are probably the most frequently seen reptile in Britain.

How do you get slow worms in your garden?

Leave piles of sticks, prunings and logs undisturbed in a quiet corner of the garden. These will gradually rot down and be a hot bed of garden bugs and beasties for the slow worms to feed upon. Allow an area of your garden to grow wild to attract a wide range of beneficial insects to restore the natural balance.

Why shouldn’t you pick up a slow worm?

Well, if you pick up a Slow Worm the worst thing that could happen is it will ‘drop’ it’s tail, as is the case with the Common Lizard.

Is it good to have slow worms in your garden?

That is the helpful hint for the squeamish who might worry about the appearance of a greyish brown or black legless lizard in their garden compost heap. Your reaction should be delight, as slow worms are entirely harmless and a gardener’s friend; they eat slow-moving prey like slugs and other garden pests.

Are slow worms protected in the UK?

Protection. Slow-worms are protected by law in Great Britain against being deliberately killed, injured or sold/traded in any way.

Are slow worms protected UK?

Slow-worms are protected by law in Great Britain against being deliberately killed, injured or sold/traded in any way.

Is a grass snake a slow worm?

Grass snakes are the most likely to be found in the same habitats as slow worms and they are 90 to 150 centimetres long when fully grown. Adders are unlikely to be confused with slow worms due to their distinctive zig-zag markings. Read more about UK snakes and how to identify them. Like snakes, slow worms have scales.