This month's story...

Snakes in the grass?

As the weather warms up you might be lucky enough to spot a snake in your garden, and while many people are scared of these gentle creatures more often than not there is nothing to worry about.  The most common snake sightings tend to be grass snakes or slow worms.  Grass snakes are usually a greeny-brown colour with a distinctive yellow 'collar'.  They often live in gardens with ponds, as they like to hunt in water, and lay their eggs in warm, secure places, like compost heaps, during June and July.  Grass snakes can grow up to 5ft long, which does sound intimidating but they are completely harmless, non-venomous snakes which may even 'play dead' if you try to handle them!  Grass snakes are widespread in Wales and central and southern England.  

Although slow worms are called a worm and look like a snake, they are actually a type of legless lizard.  They are shiny and brown, with a copper or pink appearance, and have a blunt tail; juveniles have a much paler upper-side.  Unlike snakes, slow worms have a moveable eyelid allowing them to blink.  Slow worms are widespread throughout the UK and like a variety of habitats.  They are really quite beneficial to gardens as they eat a variety of slugs, insects and other pests.

The only venomous snake in Britain is the adder; they have a continuous dark zig-zag marking down the entire length of the back and females are mid-brown with dark-brown markings whereas males are buff/grey with black markings.  Adders rarely grow over 2ft long.  They are usually only sighted in south west and north east England and central Scotland and prefer rough grassland or heathland.  Adders do not lay eggs so if you find any in your compost heap or garden debris then they will be grass snake eggs.  Although adders are venomous it is important to remember that there is a very low risk of people (or pets) being bitten and the majority of bites have mild or no effects.  If you are worried you have adders in your garden and would like some advice please get in touch or see the advice sheets in the Information Service section; if you do want to remove the adders do not attempt to handle the snakes yourself, get in touch with your local Amphibian and Reptile Group who will be able to advise (visit Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK to find your local group).

If you do see a snake in your garden it is probably just passing through or stopping to snack, there is usually nothing to worry at all about.  Please use the reptile ID notes to help with your identification and hopefully put your mind at rest.  If you want to report your grass snake sightings please see our information about 'Snakes in the Grass'.

If you take any pictures of the snakes you see, email them to info@froglife.org and we'll put them on the website.

          Not everyone would be pleased to see this 'nest' of grass snakes!     (Photo by Tracy Farrer)

            Gary Allingham, from Kent, sent us this great photo of a grass snake swimming in a local lake.

            This large grass snake has taken up residence in Arthur and Kathryn Sedgwick's garden in Devon.

Exotic snakes in the grass...

We recently heard about a python being spotted in Werrington, Peterborough; sometimes exotic pets are released or escape into the wild.  If you think the snake you have seen does not match the description of a native snake please get in touch for confirmation or contact the RSPCA on:                                                                    0870 3335 999 (Enquiries line) or 0870 5555 999 (24hr line).

If you think you have seen the Werrington python please call the local police on 0845 456 4564.

           This banded rat snake, or Taiwanese Beauty, was seen by Diane Warner in Watford earlier this year.

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