Reptile Surveys

There are six native species of reptile present in Britain, three snakes and three lizards. They are all legally protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act and are protected from intentional killing or injuring. Additionally two species, the Smooth Snake and the Sand Lizard have their habitat protected. Both Smooth Snake and Sand Lizard are also European Protected Species and receive additional protection under Schedule 2 of the Habitat Regulations 1994.

Surveys are seasonally restricted and are best undertaken during April, May or September, with visits restricted to certain times of day and certain air temperatures.

The Wildlife Survey Unit undertakes reptile surveys across Scotland including including Inverness, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Argyll, Angus, Perthshire and Caithness. Surveys available are detailed below:

• Presence/absence survey: This is a seven-visit survey which identify whether reptiles are present and which species are involved


• Population estimate survey: This is a detailed survey involving twenty visits and is suitable for Ecological Impact Assessment

All survey methods follow the recommendations found in Froglife Advice Sheet 10: Reptile Surveys and the Herpetofauna Workers Manual.

We are experienced in Reptile mitigation from creation of receptor sites, exclusion and trapping at the donor site, through to population monitoring at the receptor site.

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Adder (Vipera berus) - A female basking on a woodland edge

Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara) - Protected from intentional killing or injuring.

Reptile exclusion area with fencing and refugia