Grass Snake Identification & Sightings

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   Hi 
I have used the information on your web page and particularly Ruth's pictures to help me identify a grass snake in our garden pond in Rutland.  It is about 1 inch across and I guess 18 to 24 inches long.  The pond contains newts and frogs.  Although we did have some frogspawn this this year there was less than usual and there seem to be fewer frogs as well.  Can I expect to see more than one snake?  Is there anything I should do about it?
David

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asterix Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1	Post Options Post Reply Quote asterix Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 10:37am
	Hi I have used the information on your web page and particularly Ruth's pictures to help me identify a grass snake in our garden pond in Rutland. It is about 1 inch across and I guess 18 to 24 inches long. The pond contains newts and frogs. Although we did have some frogspawn this this year there was less than usual and there seem to be fewer frogs as well. Can I expect to see more than one snake? Is there anything I should do about it? David
	Asterix, Rutland

Robert V Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264	Post Options Post Reply Quote Robert V Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 23 May 2005 at 12:49pm
	David, I think most of the members would agree with me when I say, there seems to be a reduction in frog spawn everywhere this year, not only your pond......Come to that there seems to be a reduction in Grass snake numbers as well, so i think you're very lucky to have one visiting on a regular basis. like I said to ruth, you could get some small carp to stock the pond if you want to keep the grassie interested. If i were you, I'd invest in one of those small hides/tents, set it up one night so that you can see the pond clearly and wait for a sunny morning. You have the ideal opprotunity to grab a photo of a grass snake swallowing a small fish.....It would be great if you could log it on here afterwards so that we can all see! Cheers Robert
	RobV

cressy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote cressy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 Aug 2005 at 2:57pm
	hi, I'm totally new to this forum, but hope you dont mind me adding in a grass snake sighting! it was in our kitchen garden, 'sunbathing' on a vertical old stone wall, and I've identified it from the pictures on your site. I went in to get the children to come and see it, but unfortunately they were a bit loud as we went back out, and it had disappeared... we are in Kent, very close to the sea, and this is the first grass snake I have seen here in about 5 years, although I have seen several slow worms too. do we not see them because they are rare, or because they hide themselves away? I was thrilled to see it.

Alan Hyde Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1437	Post Options Post Reply Quote Alan Hyde Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 Aug 2005 at 4:21pm
	Hi Cressy Welcome to the forums . I'm glad you managed to see a grassy in your garden, that's excellent news I've been into reptiles since I was very young , and now at age 41 I can honestly say I still get very excited when I see a snake. To answer your question, Our reptiles are becoming rarer and they're definitely not as easy to see as when I was young . Also, you may not often see snakes because you're not that familiar with them . Once you start looking in the right places you'll find that your eye becomes trained to spotting them . Thanks for telling us about your grass snake , hope to speak to you again here Alan

cressy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote cressy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08 Aug 2005 at 6:04pm
	thanks for the reply and the welcome - can you recommend a quick and easy way to find out more about reptiles in the UK? we also get lizards (unfortunately brought in by the cats, but very often still alive) and also lots of frogs here. trouble is, if you google reptiles you get so much info that its hard to sift through - I'd like to be able to identify things and know about their habitat, lifestyle, how we can encourage more, etc etc. - a good book recommendation would be great!

Peter Vaughan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 172	Post Options Post Reply Quote Peter Vaughan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 Nov 2005 at 8:00pm
	Great to see the Forum back . It seemed easier to observe the Grass Snakes at my local reserve during September and October - perhaps because the vegetation had thinned out a bit and temperatures were that bit cooler. My last sighting was on 16 October, but here is a photograph of one on a log pile taken on 10 September. thinned
	Peter Vaughan

Mick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 184	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19 Nov 2005 at 10:16am
	Peter. That's a lovely photo' of a Grass snake in the some Bramble.

arvensis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Location: Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 493	Post Options Post Reply Quote arvensis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Jun 2006 at 5:44pm
	Here's a Juvenile from yesterday. Mark

Vicar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1184	Post Options Post Reply Quote Vicar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 2006 at 8:37am
	Nice one Mark. Did you get 'slimed' ? :P, although it looks settled(ish).
	Steve Langham - Chairman Surrey Amphibian & Reptile Group

arvensis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Location: Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 493	Post Options Post Reply Quote arvensis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 2006 at 1:51pm
	Steve, I didn't get skunked because I wasn't the one holding it! There was another one underneath a tin which would've made a nice piccy if someone else lifted the tin. I was on my own at the time and its a bit tricky with a DSLR. I should be out next week if the weather isn't too hot and hopefully will find more. Did you get my reply to your PM regarding CA? Should be out looking for those too. Cheers, Mark