Snakes in Isle of Man

Snakes are not widespread in the United Kingdom. The only indigenous venemous snake in the UK is the adder or common viper, which can cause painful bites but these are not often dangerous. The adder will hardly ever bite humans, and the majority of adder bites take place when they are picked up or purposefully threatened. Grass snakes and smooth snakes are also native to the United Kingdom, but they are not venemous and almost never bite humans. Native snakes are protected by law in the United Kingdom and it is an offense to injure or kill them.

It’s very rare for snakes to cause problems in the UK as their habitats rarely intersect with gardens and properties. Most snakes that are discovered in gardens are just moving through and will normally retreat if humans come close. The most effective way to deal with snakes is to remove their habitats or to ensure that any locations where they may live around your gardens are properly fenced off to avoid their access. Snakes like rocky areas with plenty of cover, so taking away shrubs and bushes and mowing grass may help to discourage any snakes from living in these areas. In the event that you believe you have a snake infestation it’s best to contact a specialist pest control company, wildlife technician or the RSPCA, as many companies do not handle snakes.