Adder Rustling? Gloucestershire

[nightshade]

Police are looking for four men reported to be taking the snakes from a site in
Gloucestershire
BBC News - Adder thefts from Forest of Dean reported to police
If you have any information contact the police

[JaySteel]

It's a real shame that people would rather have a few adders in their own private collections than preserve the species in the wild for future generations to enjoy.
Even if the police catch these people there is very little they can do about it even if they admit to taking them. Unfortunately there is no law to prevent anyone taking adders from the wild unless you plan to sell or trade them. Hopefully this will change in the near future but not the extent that people can't risk disturbing them in anyway for fear of prosecution as is the case with smooth snakes and sand lizards. There needs to be a law that sits in between these two levels of protection in my opinion.

Best regards.
Jason

[ViperaBerus]

The sad fact is that adders taken from the wild just refuse to eat in captivity and just starve to death. Even if released back into the wild they can still refuse to eat for many weeks and still die.

Remember that it is an offence to take them from the wild and keep them as you would require a DWA licence to possess them. All vipers fall into the DWA category.

[JaySteel]

Having read further into this subject it has been made known to me that unfortunately this is another misleading, inaccurate, and badly reported piece of journalism from the media. The truth of what actually happened is known by many on other forums including the identity of those actually accused of 'stealing' the adders.

Best regards,
Jason

[nightshade]

Hi Jason, which other forums?

[JaySteel]

I'll PM you the link.

Best regards,
Jason

[kevinb]

The truth of the story is that 4 highly experienced herpetologists were photographing Adders when they were disturbed by a bird watcher. They tried to explain what they were up to but the bird watcher/photographer accused them first of disturbing the Adders(unlike the many birders on site trying to photograph the Goshawks) and reported them to the police. The story was then picked up by the press and then many internet forums with many people commenting on a story they know little about.One of those involved has been in touch with the relevant police force and has explained the situation.

[Ben Rigsby]

adder rustling would be wrong but hats off to the dexterity of any snake cowboy that can lasso an adder.