Adders at Bowhill

3rd September, 2013

Due to the recent sightings of adders around Bowhill Estate, we want to ensure all visitors take care when walking through long grass.

Adders are likely to stay hidden while people move past, so you need to take care where you are placing your feet. If trodden on, adders can bite and inject venom which can be very painful and potentially lead to complications if not treated.

Adders live in a variety of habitats, but are most common in longer grass or heather areas, making the hills around Bowhill perfect for them. They are active during the summer months, but hibernate from October through to the spring. Adders can grow up to one metre long and have a characteristic dark brown ‘zigzag’ pattern running down the length of the spine, with the occasional melanistic or black type occurring.