Orla Spots Black Adder on Dartmoor
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- Orla went on a bright spring morning walk in Dartmoor with her mother, brother, and grandmother.
- Orla left the main path to explore brambles near a sun‑lit concrete slab after her mother suggested looking for bluebells.
- Orla encountered a large black snake with faint zigzag patterns, later identified as a black adder, the UK's only venomous snake.
- Orla followed her mother's advice to back away slowly, after which the snake relaxed and slipped under a large rock.
- Orla submitted the sighting to Young Country Diary, whose submission window remains open until Tuesday 5 May.
- Orla observed the adder was about half a metre long, noting the species can grow up to 80 cm and feeds on small mammals, lizards, and slowworms.
Why it matters: Orla’s encounter adds a rare firsthand record of a black adder to the Young Country Diary, highlighting the snake’s elusive nature and reminding UK walkers of the need for cautious behavior around venomous wildlife. It also underscores the educational value of youth‑submitted nature diaries in documenting uncommon wildlife sightings.
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