Spring is on the way!

Background

As we draw closer to the end of February and start getting into March spring will have finally sprung. Look around, there is new growth everywhere, grass is starting to grow, trees are beginning to bud and birds are thinking of nesting. But it is also a great time to start thinking about common reptiles and their awaking from their winter slumber.

As the temperatures start to rise to around 9oC upwards most of our native reptiles start to emerge and move around in the landscape once again. They have one thing on their minds to begin with – mating until around May (herpetofauna, 2017).

Slow worm Anguis fragilis for instance have between three to 26 young each year with an average of eight. The young are born in an egg which is soon shed. When newly born the young are between 70 to 100mm in length (herpetofauna, 2017).

Their preferred habitat is a mosaic of rough grassland, scrub, woodland edge and rough ground with basking spots e.g. bareground (Wildlife Trust, 2017). This is true of many of our native reptiles and there is usually a good water source nearby. This can also mean that grass snakes Natrix natrix might be present.

The issues

When planning your project it is worth considering common reptiles as although not protected like bats or great crested newt, they are protected from killing and injury. Therefore by clearing or breaking ground that has not been checked for them you could accidentally be breaking the law by killing reptiles hidden in scrub or long grass.

The Solution

The first thing that’s needed is to check the site for the potential presence of common reptiles. This is done by checking the site over for the habitats that are required by common reptiles. Once established that this is suitable a full survey is generally required. This involves placing out ‘tins’ which are a half metre by half metre bitumen felt, corrugated tin or carpet square. Reptiles will then utilize these to bask or hide under making it possible to find common reptiles in an otherwise difficult habitat to search.

Been asked for a reptile survey? Get your free quote here.

References

Herpetofauna, (2017), Slow Worm, Online at http://www.herpetofauna.co.uk/slow_worm.htm, accessed 03/01/2017

Wildlife Trust, (2017), Slow Worm, Online at http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/slow-worm, accessed on 03/01/2017

Time to start thinking about great crested newt and reptile surveys

March is a month I look forward to as an ecologist, not just because spring is just around the corner but because it signals the start of the ecological survey season.

Every year, following the bleak, damp, cold winter months and long hours of darkness, the days begin to slowly lengthen and spring flowers begin to show their intentions for the coming season. Spring equals life in a temperature climate and the flowers are the start, following them the tree buds will burst and for many of the UK’s wildlife these signals tell them it is time to wake from the winter slumber.

Soon frog, toads and great crested newts will be moving from their wintering grounds on land to the ponds they need to reproduce. Frogs, toad and newt will be found in the ponds, that for generations, these amphibians have relied upon. New generations of amphibians will be born, with frog and toad spawn and newt eggs being found within the next few weeks.

Of course this new life gives ecologists the opportunity to study amphibians, as the remainder of the year they are hunting, sheltering and moving around on land, where it is all-most impossible to find them.

Reptiles such as slow worm, common lizard and grass snake will also be waking from their slumber. Although not requiring a still water body for reproduction, they, like amphibians, require a reasonable temperature to start moving around. Typically this is seen as 9oC in the UK for reptiles. In periods of poor weather they will hunker down again until it improves.

As the days get longer and sun warms the earth, reptiles and amphibians will be moving around and this provides an opportunity for ecologists to get out of the house and start doing what they love so much, finding and recording wildlife.

For developers, architects and planning consultants in the UK, now is the time to get organized and start looking at getting surveys instructed to prevent delays in the future ‘Forearmed is Forewarned’ as the saying goes and this couldn’t be more true with ecological surveys.

If you are a planning consultant, developer, architect or home owner thinking about starting your project in the coming months and you have ponds, rough grassland, woodland or parkland close by, give Cherryfield Ecology a ring to discuss the ecological constraints that may be a future issue. 

www.cherryfieldecology.co.uk

07950279790 or admin@cherryfieldecology.co.uk