There are only three types of snakes native to the UK - an adder, grass snake and a smooth snake - all of which can be found across the country.
There were a number of adder sightings across the UK last year resulting in the deaths of numerous dogs.
Reports of dogs being bitten by snakes came in from all over the UK in 2023 including in Christchurch and Weymouth in Dorset and Newport in south Wales.
But where are snakes most commonly found?
I’d say they probably were adders if you caught them basking on the path. In general grass snakes are more common, but they typically get out of the way at the slightest disturbance, so all you usually see of them is their tails vanishing in to the undergrowth. Adders aren’t as quick off the mark, so are more often seen on paths. They prefer heathland and more open, sunny spots, where grass snakes go for longer grassy areas and often are near water.
That is assuming that it was actually a snake. Slow worms are often mistaken for snakes and will also spend time basking on tracks. They are usually much lighter in colour and have a smooth pale, metallic bronze look.
Adders are more obviously scaled and are a deeper grey or brown colour with a very distinctive dark zigzag pattern on their backs.
They almost certainly won’t have been smooth snakes or anything else though.
