​​Protection of lizards in Jersey​
There are 3 species of lizard in Jersey
- green lizard
- wall lizard
- slow worm
Green lizard
Why they are protected
Jersey is the only place in Britain where green lizards are native to.
You can mostly find them around the west and south-west coast of Jersey. The largest populations are at:
- Les Blanches Banques, the dunes in St Ouen’s bay
- Ouaisne Common
Green lizard on National Trust Jersey
The largest threats to green lizards are the lack and loss of suitable habitat and predation from:
- cats
- birds of prey
- pheasants
- rats
Furze fires which happen occasionally can also severely impact green lizard populations.
Habitat
Green lizards enjoy a variety of insects such as bees, grasshoppers and butterflies.
Adult males can reach between 30 to 40cm long, making it one of the largest species in Europe.
Female green lizards have a yellowish green throat. Adult males have a larger head and a blue throat.
Green lizards breed in April and May and lay 5 to 20 eggs in June and July. They bury their in sand and soil or hidden beneath vegetation. You can start to see young green lizards in September.
Conservation efforts
Conservation measures for green lizards are mostly around habitat management. Making sure the sand dunes and heathlands provide:
- the right vegetation cover
- sufficient prey availability
We also encourage new developments to create basking and breeding areas for green lizards such as hibernacula and dry-stone walls.
Wall lizard
Why they are protected
Jersey is the only place in Britain where wall lizards are native to. The wall lizard gets its name from its preferred habitat type of walls, rocks and cliffs.
There is a wide range of wall lizards in Europe across:
- France
- Italy
- Northern Spain
you can mostly find wall lizards on the northeast and east corner of the Island. The largest populations is in Gorey and around Mont Orgueil castle. Smaller populations are scattered around fortifications and gardens.
The biggest threats to wall lizards are the lack of and loss of suitable habitat and predation from rats.​
Find more information on wall lizards in the
reptile guide for Jersey on Jersey Biodiversity Centre.
Habitat
You usually see wall lizards in dry, stonier vertical habitats. The older the wall the better.
They use piles of stone, logs, loose stonework, crevices and any other cracks, nooks and crannies. These will generally all have a south facing aspects so wall lizards can bask in the sun.
They have a variety of spots and stripes that vary for each lizard.
Adults reach about 20cm long, with up to 65% of that length being their tail.
Wall lizards lay their 7 to 8 eggs in low growing vegetation exposed to the sun in June to July. You can start seeing young wall lizards in September.
They feed on insects and spiders.
Conservation efforts
Conservation strategies are in place in most of our Heritage sites including:
- Mont Orgueil Castle
- L’Etacquerel Fort
- St Aubins Fort
Slow worm
Why they are protected
Slow worms like snakes but they are a legless lizard.
You can find slow worms everywhere in Jersey, however they are at risk from:
- increased predation pressure from rats and pheasants
- change in land use
- loss of habitat
Slow worm on Jersey Biodiversity Centre
Habitat
Slow worms are much smaller than grass snakes. Adults can reach 30 to 50cm and newly borns can measure 7 to 10cm.
Their skin is smooth and like many other lizards, they can shed their tails to escape predators and can blink.
Slow worms are the longest living lizard. They can live up to:
- 30 years in the wild
- 50 years in captivity
Slow worms often live in gardens and allotments. They eat slugs and worms.
They can be found in wilder areas of Jersey:
- heathland
- dunes
- wet and dry meadows
- woodland
You’ll rarely see them. They are well camouflaged and spend much of their time hidden in:
- burrows
- compost heaps
- underneath logs, vegetation, rock piles and loose soil
Slow worms hibernate between October and March.
Conservation efforts
Providing dry-stone walls and piles of timber on nature reserves helps provide slow worms with a suitable habitat.
How you can help
Reptilewatch JE
Reptilewatch JE is a project by the Jersey Biodiversity Centre (JBC). It aims to gather sightings of Jersey’s reptiles to assess their:
- level of conservation
- distribution on the Island
- habitat requirements
Everyone can be involved depending on your interest, available time and experience.
Reptilewatch JE on JBC
Report your wildlife sightings
Reporting your wildlife sightings helps us understand our species, supports our research and informs decision-making.
Report your wildlife sightings
Protecting slow worms
If you have a garden, leave some untidied corners with piles of rocks or stacked branches for slow worms.
You should not use slug pellets. The poison can be passed down to slow worms via the food chain and can kill them.
Other ways you can help lizards
Find more information on how you can help lizards on:
gov.je