Devon Reptile & Amphibian Group (DRAG)

About Us

** Please note: This website is currently under construction and some resources maybe temporarily missing. **

Welcome to the Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group (DRAG) website.

Common Lizard

Who are we?

We are a friendly, volunteer led group who have a passion for reptiles and amphibians and a willingness to share this passion, knowledge and experience with others.

We are made up of individuals with a variety of backgrounds and interests, from those with a general interest in the natural world to experienced herpetologists, ecologists and conservationists.

What do we hope to achieve?

Here are some of the group’s key aims and objectives:

To identify and protect important reptile and amphibian sites in the county of Devon
To support partner groups and organisations in conserving these sites
To better understand species distributions, populations and potential negative trends and to help mitigate or reverse those trends
To promote conservation through education and public engagement
To collect and submit data to Devon Biodiversity Records Centre (DBRC)

How do we achieve this?

Through monitoring and surveying of known sites
Through visiting potential sites of interest
By working along with landowners and organisations in providing advice and consultations on habitat management and species monitoring
By encouraging everyone to report sightings of reptiles and amphibians on Record Pool either using the Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group (DRAG) website (under the 'Record a sighting' tab) or by visiting https://www.recordpool.org.uk.
By holding events and by providing resources that aim to raise awareness and educate people about these amazing animals and their habitats
By recruiting more members

News

A tale of six lizards

Posted on Sunday 25th July, 2021

Over the last few years DRAG member Raymond Wergan has been observing and recording a local population of the non-native Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis).

He shares his story on the DWT website at the link below where you can learn more about this colourful reptile.

"A tale of six lizards"

Upcoming Talk

Posted on Monday 15th February, 2016

Wed 13 April 2016 7.30pm £3

Cowick Barton pub, 121 Cowick Lane, Exeter

Talk by Dan Eatherley

Bushmaster: hunt for the world's largest viper

Dan Eatherley, Exeter-based writer, environmental consultant and former wildlife filmmaker gives a special talk based on his new book published Summer 2015: Bushmaster: Raymond Ditmars and the Hunt for the World’s Largest Viper.

Bushmaster is the story of one man’s obsession with an enigmatic and deadly reptile. Raymond Ditmars (1876-1942), the first curator of reptiles at New York’s world-famous Bronx Zoo, popularised cold-blooded animals as never before. His love for snakes, insects and other misunderstood creatures was conveyed in books, lectures, and pioneering motion pictures. But his expeditions to the South America jungles during the 1930s in search of the legendary bushmaster – the world’s largest viper – really captured the public imagination. In Bushmaster the author follows in Ditmars’s footsteps and attempts to achieve what Ditmars himself failed to do: find a bushmaster in the wild. Eighty years on, will Dan have any more luck? And will a bushmaster find him first?

Reptile Training Oppourtunity

Posted on Monday 28th April, 2014

Nicky Green is leading a Reptile Survey Training Day for the East Devon District Council on Friday 9th May, between 10am and 4.30pm

Details:

Spend a day in the company of Nicky Green, experienced ecologist and Chair of the Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group, learning about reptile ecology and survey methods. Using the Axe Estuary Wetlands near Seaton and nearby heathland sites, we will carry out a survey and hopefully see some reptiles. This day will be suitable for interested adults and those requiring training in this field.

Cost £20. Booking essential as places are limited. Call 01395 517557 or email Countryside@eastdevon.gov.uk

DRAG great crested newt training courses delivers the goods

Posted on Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Both great crested newt training courses over the past fortnight ran successfully. The course provided valuable training for surveyors building up experience to gain a survey licence. We hope that our newly trained surveyors can contribute to our knowledge of the distribution of this beautiful and rare species. Funds raised by the course go towards DRAG conservation work and awareness raising activities.

Please go to the Photo Gallery for Alex Sam's excellent photos from the training days (photos will be available shortly).

Unfortunately, DRAG does not have the resources or staff to undertake a great crested newt survey project this year. However, DBRC holds a list of Devon sites with suspected great crested newt records that need confirmation. If you have a great crested newt surveyor licence and want to undertake surveys of such sites, or ponds that you feel may support this species, please contact DBRC to volunteer your help. All information gathered, including surveyed 'vacant sites', can help to build a better picture of the distirbution of this species and help to target conservation efforts.

Sand lizard summary and pics

Posted on Thursday 9th May, 2013

Thanks again to Steve for leading another successful sand lizard survey and walk for DRAG members. The sun was on our side and all surveyors got excellent views of at least three males in breeding colours, a rotund female and a cryptic coloured yearling less than 5cm in length. There was a male guarding his female for most of the morning, no doubt 'protecting' her from the male just three metres away. The pair seemed very relaxed sunbathing amongst some nettles despite being close to a busy footpath.

Please check out the Gallery for sand lizard photos from our unoffical event photographer Neil Harris. If you want to hear about walks and events, please email us to be added to the DRAG email list on devonrag@hotmail.com.

Mabel Harris

Events

Past Events

Show Upcoming Events

An Introduction to Great Crested Newts – 11/12 May 2013

Sat 11th May, 2013 - Sun 12th May, 2013

Note the April 13/14 and 20/21 courses have been cancelled, due to unseasonal weather, and are being replaced with these new dates. The location may also be subject to change. Please get in touch with Nicky Green for further information.

These courses are run by Nicky Green CEnv MIEEM, Chair of the Devon Reptile & Amphibian Group (DRAG) and has been working with great crested newts since 2003. The course location is the spectacular Braunton Burrows sand dunes SSSI on the picturesque north Devon coast.

Course cost is £100 (exclusive of required overnight accommodation) and all proceeds will be donated to DRAG. To reserve a place email nicky@green-ecology.co.uk. (This course is the same as that held on the 18th/19th May.)

Items covered include: -

· Ecology

· Identification

· GCN distribution – Devon and UK

· Survey planning, timing, interpretation, health & safety

· Survey methods including making a bottle trap

· Habitat Suitability Index

· Legislation

· Survey and mitigation requirements – an LPA perspective

· Introduction to mitigation methods

· Field visits to practice survey methods

An Introduction to Great Crested Newts – 18th/19th May

Sat 18th May, 2013 - Sun 19th May, 2013

Course cost is £100 (exclusive of required overnight accommodation) and all proceeds will be donated to DRAG. To reserve a place email nicky@green-ecology.co.uk. (The same course is also repeated on the 11th/12th May.)

Items covered include: -

· Ecology

· Identification

· GCN distribution – Devon and UK

· Survey planning, timing, interpretation, health & safety

· Survey methods including making a bottle trap

· Habitat Suitability Index

· Legislation

· Survey and mitigation requirements – an LPA perspective

· Introduction to mitigation methods

· Field visits to practice survey methods

Reptile Training

Fri 9th May, 2014

Nicky Green is leading a Reptile Survey Training Day for the East Devon District Council on Friday 9th May, between 10am and 4.30pm

Details:

Cost £20. Booking essential as places are limited. Call 01395 517557 or email Countryside@eastdevon.gov.uk

Dawlish Sand Lizards

Sat 7th June, 2014

Steve Ayres has agreed to undertake a talk/walk for sand lizards at Dawlish Warren followed by a mini survey of the Dawlish sand lizard population for DRAG members.

Spaces are limited on this occassion, please email devonrag@hotmail.com to book your place - first come first served.

If this proves to be a popular event Steve may be willing to run another similar event later in the year.

Free parking will be provided at the Devon Wildlife Trust site or the site is easily accessible from Dawlish train station.

DRAG Admin

Braunton Burrows Guided Walk

Sat 21st June, 2014

Wildlife expert John Breeds has kindly offered to run a guided walk of the Braunton Burrows world-class Biosphere Reserve to look for reptiles and amphibians.

There may also be the chance to carry out some 'pond dipping' for great crested newts during the walk.

This event will be taking place on Saturday 21st June 2014. Meeting at 9.30am at the Sandy Lane car park and finishing at approximately 1pm.

To book your place please email devonrag@hotmail.com - As ever, first come, first served.

DRAG Admin

Paignton Zoo Amphibian Ark and Reptile Enclosure

Thu 18th September, 2014

Upcoming DRAG event at Paignton Zoo

We have arranged an evening at the Zoo with a guided tour of the Amphibian Ark and Reptile Enclosures. This is a great chance to learn about the exciting conservation initiatives that are currently being undertaken at the zoo.

This event will be taking place on Thursday 18th September 2014 from 19.00-21.00.

The suggested donation is£3 per person and this includes entry to the zoo.

To book your place please email Mel Pritchard at devonrag@hotmail.com.

DRAG Admin

AGM and Talks

Sat 7th February, 2015

Our first event this year will be held on the afternoon of Saturday 7th February 2015, at the Kenn Centre, Kennford http://www.kenncentre.co.uk/

Tea, coffee etc. will be available from 1.40 followed by a brief AGM at 2pm.

This will be followed by a talk form Kim Leaver on the Reptiles & Amphibians of the former Yugoslavia, about the species seen Yugoslavia between 1986 and 1990.

Conrad Barrowclough from the Blackdown Hills Natural futures project will give a short presentation about the project and the amphibian and reptile survey training and volunteer opportunities planned.

Please let us know if there is anything that you would like to discuss at the AGM (devonrag@hotmail.com) and an agenda will be circulated later this week.

Drag Admin

Bushmaster: hunt for the world's largest viper

Wed 13th April, 2016

Wed 13 April 2016 7.30pm

Cowick Barton pub, 121 Cowick Lane, Exeter

Talk by Dan Eatherley

Bushmaster: hunt for the world's largest viper

Please note, there will be a small charge for this event (£3) to cover expenses.

Talk: 30 years of saving the agile frog in Jersey

Sat 16th June, 2018

AF poster1 Come along and learn all about 30 years of efforts to stop the agile frog from going extinct in Jersey - the only place it occurs in the British Isles! Presented by Dr. Rob Ward.

Saturday 16th June, 10-30-11:30 am, Passmore Edwards Public Library (Newton Abbot Library), 3 Market St., Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 2RJ
Book a place by emailing devonrag@hotmail.com
DRAG members £1.50, non-members £3.00 (pay on the day, to help cover the room costs).

Reptile survey training

Sun 10th March, 2019

We will be running reptile survey training on Sunday 10th March. This includes a classroom session and a field trip to a reptile survey site. An optional donation of £2 is suggested to help cover the costs of venue hire. If you are interested in taking part, please email devonrag@hotmail.com.

Record a sighting

Resources

Introduction to Reptile Identification and Surveying

Adder Bites - Helpful Links

Facts and Advice

NHS Advice

Dogs and Adders

Dogs 'n' Adders - Information Leaflet

Snakes in Gardens

Snakes are fascinating creatures and for many, finding one in the garden is a real treat and a memorable experience.

However, for many others this can be a disconcerting and even worrying situation. This can be as a result of misunderstandings often fed by negative and often inaccurate media reports and rumours. Please be assured, though, that there is no reason to worry and that these situations can be resolved fairly easily.

The vast majority of reported snake sightings in gardens turn out to be either a Grass Snake or a Slow worm (a legless lizard which resembles a snake). Both species are harmless and are best left alone.

We only have one venomous snake species, the Adder, which is rarely found in gardens unless your property is situated close to favourable habitat. Even then, the adder is a very shy animal and avoids human activity whenever it can. Again, the best course of action is to leave it alone and allow it to move off when it’s ready. The likelihood is that it is just passing through anyway.

Occasionally, DRAG gets asked about relocating snakes. For all kinds of practical reasons this isn’t something we would do and would actually be the opposite of what our group encourages which is reptile conservation.

The best recommendation we can provide is to learn as much as possible about the reptile you have seen in your garden. We will happily help you identify it and provide related advice such as understanding which features of your garden have likely attracted it in the first place.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch and send a photo or description of the snake to devonrag@hotmail.com or to our Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/DevonARG/.

It would really help if you could record your sighting on Record Pool either using the Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group (DRAG) website (under the 'Record a sighting' tab) or by visiting https://www.recordpool.org.uk.

Please remember that reptiles are protected under UK law.

Species Guides

Devon's Reptiles

In the UK we have 6 native reptile species, each of which can be found in Devon.

To find out more about a particular species click on it's name which will then jump to the relevant information.

Adder Vipera berus

Grass Snake (or Barred Grass Snake) Natrix helvetica

Smooth Snake Coronella austriaca

Slow Worm Anguis fragilis

Viviparous (or Common) Lizard Zootoca vivipara

Sand Lizard Lacerta agilis

Devon's Amphibians

In the UK we have 7 native amphibian species, 6 of which can be found in Devon.

To find out more about a particular species click on it's name which will then jump to the relevant information.

Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus)

Smooth Newt (Lissotriton vulgaris)

Palmate Newt (Lissotriton helveticus)

Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

Natterjack Toad (Epidalea calamita)

Common Frog (Rana temporaria)

Adder Vipera berus

For information on the adder please click on the fact sheet link in blue or you can watch the animated video below.

Adder Factsheet

Grass Snake Natrix helvetica

Tadpoles

We've all seen them right, often in large numbers early in the year in even the smallest bodies of water ..... but what are tadpoles?

Tadpoles are the larval stage in the life cycle of an amphibian. In the UK the tadpoles we most often encounter will belong to the Common frog (Rana temporaria) or Common toad (Bufo Bufo).

Amphibians go through several stages before reaching their adult form. This incredible process is known as metamorphosis. Below is a video showing in detail how this process takes place.

Membership

Why become a member?

Well, big things start in small ways and becoming a member of the Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group (DRAG) is one step you can take towards protecting the reptiles and amphibians in your local area and beyond.

Whether you’re dropping us a line by email, submitting a photo or participating as a volunteer in a reptile or amphibian survey your contribution is valued all the same. Everything we can do to keep the ‘conversation’ going is great for the reptiles and amphibians of Devon.

The more members that join the greater the potential for activity. Put simply, without members we couldn’t do what we do and it would be great to have you join us.

Membership benefits:

· Become part of a group of like minded individuals and keep in touch via social media or email

· Invitations to events, training and volunteering opportunities

· A quarterly newsletter

· Opportunities to see and work with elusive and hard to find species

· Opportunities to learn new skills

· Gain practical experience in conservation

· The opportunity to have a positive, lasting impact on Devon’s wildlife

Some of the activities that you will be invited to can include talks by local experts, guided walks, bioblitzes and even species identification and survey skills training.

Opportunities for volunteering could include surveying, habitat management or helping out at nature festivals.

Have a voice in what we do.

We value your feedback and encourage it.

For example: