Today's Adder

[BorderReiver]

Can't find the relevant thread, sorry.

My dog found this one. Luckily he was very unsure about it.

I couldn't manage a better picture as the dog moved in when I did.

EDIT: Having seen the picture, I now believe that it's a grass snake, not an adder.

 

[Cromm]

Still cool looking....

 

[Asa Samuel]

Can't find the relevant thread, sorry.

EDIT: Having seen the picture, I now believe that it's a grass snake, not an adder.

Not having a good day?

Looks pretty good, I've only ever seen slow worms before, never snakes in the wild.

Asa.

 

[Jaysurfer]

You didn't fancy catching, skining and eating it then?
We get quite a few down here, they go in the ponds after the fish and frogs.

 

[BorderReiver]

You didn't fancy catching, skining and eating it then?
We get quite a few down here, they go in the ponds after the fish and frogs.

My main concern was stopping the dog from getting bitten.

Even though it was a grass snake, if I'd picked it up it would have sent the wrong message to the dog.

Anyway, I like to see them in their natural habitat and I wasn't hungry.

 

[badgeringtim]

Yeah definately a grass snake, hehe

If you picked it up it probably would have 'icked' you, fould smelling voiding, which trust me can linger if it has skin contact. Linger for a good few days if you cant scrubb it off right away!

But, you guys know all uk reptiles are protected from killing and injuring right...?

 

[Jaysurfer]

I don't think any animal should be injured but if there is one in my pond then i will / have exterminated it...

 

[Mesquite]

I don't think any animal should be injured but if there is one in my pond then i will / have exterminated it...

Why? All you need to do is remove it and relocate it to a new site away from your pond.

There's no need at all to kill it for being in your pond.

 

[Chopper]

I don't think any animal should be injured but if there is one in my pond then i will / have exterminated it...

There,s always one !!

I take it you didnt know they are protected?

 

[Chopper]

I don't think any animal should be injured but if there is one in my pond then i will / have exterminated it...

There's always one !!

I take it you didnt know they are protected?

 

[badgeringtim]

If you dont wish to have them in your pond because you think they will reduce the number of frogs, it might be worth bearing in mind that beind reptiles they have a very effcient (or slow depending on your point of view) metabolism and one frog will last a grass snake a long time several weks most likely. You would have to have a huge grass snake population to make any dent on even a relatively 'small' population of frogs.

 

[Joezilla]

fantastic picture!!!!! Is that a touch of white behind his head?

 

[badgeringtim]

The white (most likely yellow) is the band or coller that is behind the head and is one of the methods of identifying it as a grass snake. They are pritty obviouse and one of the reasons the two snakes in the UK are quite hard to get confused.

 

[Night Phoenix]

Yes it is indeed a Grass snake, a lovely photo of one as well.
The thing sometimes get people confused between the two are the black bands on the grass snakes back, adders have more of a zig zag banding on their back.
Grass snakes are totally harmless to humans and are rare fanged colubrids that do indeed feed on frogs but as allready said a frog would last it a very very long time.
So your dog was quite safe.
It is encouraging to know that your dog was wary but if it ever does get bit by an adder rest assured that most vets have antibiotics in storage and are well equipped to deal with adder bites. Also even in dogs adder bites will not neccesarily have a hugely negative effect, i once new a wolf that was bitten by a rattle snake and it didnt even get antibiotic treatment and recovered in a week and rattlesnake bites are much more potent, still allways take the dog to the vets just to be on the safe side.
There i have said my peice haha

 

[BorderReiver]

Trying to hide under a leaf.

Seeing me off.

 

[slowworm]

Great pictures, I tend to find the adders slither off before I can get my camera out.

On the other hand, we have loads of slowworms that aren't camera shy!

 

[Siberianfury]

thats a good sized grass snake, i usually only find small ones.
i remember when my jack russel was bitten by an adder, it was horrible as her back legs were paralised and swolen for days and even for her to moved looked like agony. its strange that apparently 70% of adder bites are dry (dont inject venom) i guess little elsa was in the unlucky 30%. ths was 5 years ago and since shes made a full recovery
still snakes are one of the most facinating and beautiful animals on the planet.

 

[BorderReiver]

Great pictures, I tend to find the adders slither off before I can get my camera out.
On the other hand, we have loads of slowworms that aren't camera shy!

I usually get them before they have warmed up properly.

Great picture of the slowworms, I see very few of them round here.