Our team of ecologists are experienced in undertaking reptile surveys and reptile translocation projects across the East Midlands.
Morph Ecological Consultant’s ecologists have carried out reptile surveys predominantly across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, where grass snakes, common lizard, slow worms and adders have been recorded. Morph Ecological Consultants can also carry out reptile surveys across the whole of England.
Reptile surveys typically require the deployment of refuges (squares of corrugated steel or Onduline, or squares of roofing felt) across a site, followed by a period of surveys in suitable weather conditions. The optimum windows for reptile surveys is April and May, and also in September when seven survey visits are typically undertaken to determine presence or assumed absence of reptiles. However reptile surveys can be undertaken June to August, although additional visits may be required as the timing is less optimal. Grass snakes and slow worms tend to be recorded below the refuges during the reptile surveys, while common lizards are usually observed on top of the refuges.
The refuges heat up in the sun, and the reptiles, being cold-blooded, use them to warm up their bodies. As such surveys are undertaken during sunny conditions; however if it is too hot, then the reptiles do not need to use the refuges to warm up, and as such surveys are best undertaken in the morning, and also afternoon (outside of the hottest time of the day).
Our team can also design and undertake reptile mitigation projects, be that enhancing habitats to support the reptile population on site, creating new habitats for reptiles, or where it cannot be avoided, the translocation of reptiles to a new site (or out of the working area).
Habitat enhancement can include allowing the grass to grow longer and form tussocks (this can be achieved by a change in the site mowing regime, or installation of rabbit proof fencing), or the creation of ponds, basking banks and hibernacula.
Where the translocation of reptiles is required, it is often necessary to install temporary reptile proof fencing, to stop the reptiles moved from regaining access to the site. Reptile fencing is similar to temporary amphibian fencing (TAF) used on great crested newt projects, however in general reptile fencing is slightly taller. Reptiles will be translocated from the area of works to a suitable receptor site. The time taken for the reptiles to be translocated will depend on the size of the reptile population within the survey area, but usually ranges from 30 to 90 days.