Actually, it was in a willow tree but the dog pulled it out. Looks like the tail was already missing, but so glad it wasn't an adder:
Snake in the grass
- Thread starter spandit
- Start date
Grass snake, natrix natrix probably a male basking before mating. It's the 4th time I've seen one here, the 2nd time the dog has picked one up. I moved it into the undergrowth & checking back 10 minutes later it had gone so no harm done this time!
Never knew they grew as long and fat...I thought Grass snakes were tiny little things here...never saw a grass snake here in Scotland, must be too cold, Adders a plenty, well there used to be loads in and around Royal Troon and Prestwick Golf course back in the 70's and early 80's.
That is a pretty looking snake BTW,
That is a pretty looking snake BTW,
They get to over 6' according to Wikipedia. Can well believe it, the last one my dog found was far bigger
found one the other day, or to be precise the dog did, it was not happy & kept striking out at the dog.
Rob
Rob
Seen a big one about four foot long swimming in our local ponds looked awesome wish I had a camera as my phone did not pick it out.
I've caught a couple by hand over the years. They don't bite (and are not venomous) and they're not constrictors but they do secrete a foul smelling liquid from their cloaca as a defense strategy. So don't pick them up unless you want sticky hands 
I put one in a glass tank so I could take some rather nice, staged photos before putting it back in its pond. Unfortunately, these are on 35mm slides so I can't post them.
I put one in a glass tank so I could take some rather nice, staged photos before putting it back in its pond. Unfortunately, these are on 35mm slides so I can't post them.
