snakes in the uk
- Thread starter steveo
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Sounds like a grass snake to me. Really nice snake. Its harmless but if you pick it up it sometimes squirts nasty smelling stuff (I think you can probably guess where it comes from!) over you. Sticks to your clothes for ages.
Years ago I caught a beautiful grass snake on a shoot. It had obviously just shed its skin and was a bright, glossy green with a well-defined neck stripe. I couldn't keep it, so I passed it on to a mate, who later passed it on again. He later told me that the snake had appeared on Blue Peter! It's my only claim to fame...
They have an amusing three-stage defence strategy:
1. Although completely harmless, they pretend to strike at you, the strike never making contact. If this doesn't work...
2. They play dead. It's very convincing. They flop over onto their backs and go completely limp, tongue dangling from the mouth. The only problem is, if you turn them over onto their bellies, they immediately roll over onto their backs again! If this doesn't work...
3. The snake exudes a foul-smelling liquid from its vent, then ties itself into knots, smearing the evil goo along its entire body. Ewww!
All in all, like most inedible, non-vermin species, they're best left alone and watched for the fascinating creatures they are.
maximus otter
They have an amusing three-stage defence strategy:
1. Although completely harmless, they pretend to strike at you, the strike never making contact. If this doesn't work...
2. They play dead. It's very convincing. They flop over onto their backs and go completely limp, tongue dangling from the mouth. The only problem is, if you turn them over onto their bellies, they immediately roll over onto their backs again! If this doesn't work...
3. The snake exudes a foul-smelling liquid from its vent, then ties itself into knots, smearing the evil goo along its entire body. Ewww!
All in all, like most inedible, non-vermin species, they're best left alone and watched for the fascinating creatures they are.
maximus otter
Definately sounds like a grass snake to me, Many years ago I found a big one at the base of a tree near the farmhouse in Nottinghamshire, that was about 3 1/2 ft long or so, my memory is a little hazy after so many years and I was something between 4 and 6 years old.
My most alarming snake incident was in the late 80s, clearing silt from a tunnel between a couple of ponds at a commune in Sussex, no room to turn around and suddenly I saw a largeish snake swimming towards me. Knowing that like any animal snakes only get realy nasty when cornered or injured I backed up 20 yards on hands and knees as fast as I could. Thankfully that was faster than the snake could swim forwards.
My most alarming snake incident was in the late 80s, clearing silt from a tunnel between a couple of ponds at a commune in Sussex, no room to turn around and suddenly I saw a largeish snake swimming towards me. Knowing that like any animal snakes only get realy nasty when cornered or injured I backed up 20 yards on hands and knees as fast as I could. Thankfully that was faster than the snake could swim forwards.
EdS
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
we've got at least 3 living in the garden. They range in colour from kakhi to alomst black - but all have the yellow collar.
T
toxopholist
Guest
Nice photo toxopholisttoxopholist said:
There is a great web site for info and identification of British reptiles and amphibians (in the UK there are 12 native species with some introductions also) with great photos:
A guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians found in the UK (Reptile and Amphibian Identification)
Click for more detailed info on the Grass Snake (Natrix natrix) from the brilliantly illustrated ident pages, including a lovely photo of one playing 'dead'
when me and my brother were kids (long time ago )
StotRe(My Brother) almost stood on a Male Adder whilst out walking in the lakedistrict with my Dad. it was sunbathing in a forest fire break!
I wont tell you how he reacted, to save embarresment, but we all slowly moved away, and the Adder slivered off!
)StotRe(My Brother) almost stood on a Male Adder whilst out walking in the lakedistrict with my Dad. it was sunbathing in a forest fire break!
I wont tell you how he reacted, to save embarresment
, but we all slowly moved away, and the Adder slivered off!
I have never seen an adder in the UK, are they really that elusive? I wonder how many thousands of people have never seen one, apart from in a zoo.
I remember as a kid seeing a grass snake, which was doing the playing dead thing. The thing is, as I didn't know until now that they do this, it was possibly actually alive!!
I remember as a kid seeing a grass snake, which was doing the playing dead thing. The thing is, as I didn't know until now that they do this, it was possibly actually alive!!
Not common I think - only ever seen one adder in the wild - when I was 7 years old - it was up in galloway sunning itself among the heather. I didn't notice it until I almost stepped on it and it beat a hasty retreat.
I've seen quite a few Adders in the wild and the best place to see them is next to small ponds or streams where frogs are in abundance, especially in the summer.
They love to sunbathe.
You also hear stories every year of golfers getting bitten by Adders as they thrash around in the rough looking for their lost golf balls.
They love to sunbathe.
You also hear stories every year of golfers getting bitten by Adders as they thrash around in the rough looking for their lost golf balls.
