Discover the Biggest Rattlesnake Ever Recorded in England

Key Points

• Rattlesnakes aren’t native to England, so you have to visit a zoo or other private collection to find one.
• England is only home to four snake species — three native and one introduced.
• Most major cities in England have zoos that may have rattlesnakes.

England’s snake species population can be counted on one hand, with room to spare — even if you include the introduced aesculapian snake. Only one of the island nation’s three native snakes is venomous, but it isn’t a rattlesnake! It’s a viper, but not a pit viper — certainly not a rattlesnake.

If you were hoping for an afternoon of searching for rattlesnakes in the English countryside, you would be disappointed. The most dangerous snake you can find native and wild in England is the common adder. It is a viper, but not a pit viper. These snakes cause many injuries to pets and livestock, but fortunately, most survive.

So how can there be a rattlesnake in England, let alone a big one?

Are There Rattlesnakes in England?

Sure! In private collections and in zoos. They aren’t native to the region and would not do well in the climate. The area’s cooler wet climate, coupled with the fact that rattlesnakes are pit vipers, native to the Americas and parts of Asia make it unlikely to ever find one outside of a collection.

That’s not to say one couldn’t escape, but you get the picture.

If you want to see a rattlesnake in England, here are your best bets. However, we were unable to get confirmation on whether they are currently on display or their size.

London Zoo

This zoo has an excellent reptile collection and a sidewinder: a rattlesnake species native to parts of California, Arizona, and Nevada in the United States.

Cotswold Wildlife Park

Founded in 1970, Cotswold Wildlife Park boasts one of the biggest reptile collections in the world.

Chester Zoo

The Chester Zoo opened in 1931 and is the biggest zoo in the U.K. by area, covering 130 acres. An avid reptile collector named George Mottershead was inspired to open his own zoo after a visit to the Belle Vue Zoo in Manchester.

Tropical World

This zoo has a terrific reptile collection. Tropical World offers self-guided tours and educational workshops for children.

Snakes Native to England

There aren’t many snake species in England — with only three natives and one introduced, a big rattlesnake in a zoo collection would probably be the only contact you’d have with one.

However, England does have a few native snakes and even one venomous species.

Common Adder (Vipera berus)

The only venomous snake native to England, common adders are widespread and occur throughout the country. Although the common adder is a viper, it’s not a rattlesnake or any other type of pit viper. Instead, it’s part of the group of “true vipers.” These venomous snakes feature the hinged hollow fangs of all vipers that inject venom deeply into prey. Adders are common across much of Europe and even live above the Arctic Circle!

This species is relatively heavy-bodied for its length, but often only averages about 24 inches long in Britain. The largest specimens are usually in Scandinavia and can exceed 35 inches in length. Their heads are larger and noticeably wider than the neck.

Most adders have distinct zigzag markings against a lighter base color, but melanistic snakes are common in the species. Many of the melanistic adders in England are female, but not always. Their darker coloring may help them warm up faster and keep warm — helping the gestation process along.

Smooth Snake (Coronella austriaca)

Smooth snakes are harmless nonvenomous colubrids that eat small mammals, reptiles, and sometimes birds. These small, thin snakes are common across much of Europe, but only occur in a small area in southern England’s heathland. This species usually measures approximately 24-30 inches long and usually grayish brown to tan with darker spots on its back. They also have dark stripes on each side of their heads and a heart-shaped pattern on top.

Barred Grass Snake (Natrix helvetica)

The last snake native to England is also harmless and grows over three feet long. Barred grass snakes are widespread across the country and mainly eat amphibians like the common toad and common frog, although they may also eat ants and larvae.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Steve Mcsweeny/iStock via Getty Images