ARGUK are working together with Amphibian and Reptile Conservation to make a difference to one of our most iconic, and threatened, native snakes this spring. There are two schemes for us to get involved with: Make the Adder Count, which is our long running ARGUK recording scheme, and a brand new project which ARC have just launched. This aims to find out more about adder hibernation sites, through a short online questionaire, and follows on from Jim Foster's well attended workshop at the January HWM in Edinburgh.

(photo copyright Neil Philips)

Adder Hibernation Questionnaire

A more precise understanding of adder hibernation habits will assist with production of guidance and systems to help locate, manage and protect hibernation sites more effectively. The three strands of this project will gather information on (i) hibernation area characteristics, (ii) hibernation refuges, and (iii) mapping and managing these areas.

To get involved, just fill in the questionnaire. It collects information about the characteristics of hibernation areas, as well as mapping and managing them. It should only take about 10 minutes to complete.

This is a one-off survey focusing on adder hibernation habitat, rather than the results of adder surveys, and is intended to complement information collected via MTAC. So, if you conduct adder surveys, please don't forget to contribute to Make The Adder Count (MTAC). 

Make the Adder Count

Welcome to Make the Adder Count 2013. Started in 2005, this long-running survey aims to encourage springtime counts of adders, with the objectives of informing local conservation projects/interests and gathering a long-term surveillance dataset. 

Make the Adder Count encourages experienced observers to gather data in a standardised way (by making at least three and, ideally, five or six, counts of snakes) so that information may be pooled to build a picture of trends in adder populations nationally.

In 2013 we are again collecting data for this project. Interested surveyors should contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Adder recorded in Derbyshire in early March 2013, taking the opportunity to bask on an otherwise snowy day, copyright Tracy Farrer

 To Take Part in Make the Adder Count

You can download the MTAC forms for 2013 from this page

MTAC Survey Form 2013

Survey notes and information can be downloaded from here

MTAC 2013 Notes

We have also put together an online recording form for this project and this can be found at www.maketheaddercount.org 

Sponsors

MTAC has been generously supported by:

Herpetologic Ltd

Amphibian & Reptile Conservation

Derbyshire Amphibian & Reptile Group

Amphibian & Reptile Groups of the UK (ARG UK) Panel

Natural England