GLOBAL WARMING is the likely cause of an early adder sighting on Deeside this week.

A two-foot adder was spotted at Glen Dye on Tuesday by Fettercairn resident Moyra Gray.

The reptiles normally go into hibernation between October and April—but with rising temperatures, and the early arrival of spring, experts have said they are more likely to venture out at this time of year.

Retired zoologist and former member of the British Herpetological Society Bob Laing said it is becoming more common to spot adders in March.

He said, “It is not too unusual, especially just now with the greenhouse effect.”

“Hibernating animals are coming out earlier and going in much later.

“All the animals are adapting their behaviour to their surroundings.

“I have even had some reports of adders being seen in January when it has been particularly hot.”

Mr Laing, who worked in the zoology department at Aberdeen University, said the situation is a far cry from 20 years ago when adders would disappear for months on end to avoid snowfall.

He said adders, which are the only venomous snakes native to the UK, come out in the warm temperatures to restore energy before they start to hunt again.

This was probably the case on Tuesday when Mrs Gray spotted the adder south of Mount Battock.

The budding photographer, who keeps sheep in the area with her husband Alex, was trying to take a picture of frogs when she came upon the snake in the undergrowth.

She said, “I heard some frogs and went to try to get a photograph of them and I just came across it.

“There are a lot of adders up there but normally they only come out to sunbathe.”