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Breaking the 2011 grassie 'duck' |
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Suzy
Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1447 |
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I handle slowies a lot and have never had one shed its tail. I guess it's probably rough handling that does it. They do squirm a lot in an attempt to escape of course. I only handle them to move them under cover away from cats etc. if I see them in the open.
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Suz
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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It's mostly people grabbing them by the tail that is the problem. I've seen some fieldworkers do it far too often. Very rarely I've seen autonomy in a thrashing animal, but again it is mishandling that is the root cause. As I'm sure you know Suz, a firm grip on the body is the way to go to prevent this. Some people seem laid-back about it, but it can have a significant affect on both locomotion and fat reserves and anyone regularly handling animals and observing autonomy ought to seriously question their techniques!
Edited by GemmaJF - 12 Sep 2011 at 2:57pm |
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Robert V
Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1264 |
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I've never had a tail lost on me, either Liz or Slowie, but when I was a teenager i used to keep green lizards in a vivarium and on cleaning days I'd put them in an aquarium with rocks and stuff while i did the business. But one day i went to move the aquarium and my fingers were wet and I let it slip, rocks everywhere and two green lizards without tails - very distressing.
You mention Gemma a reserve that you've prepared for next year.
I placed around twenty 'tins' in a reserve over epping way where there is a pond, marshy ground, bush cover, frogs and newts. But not one reptile has been found all summer under any of the tins or on the reserve.
Why do you think this is? Surely reptiles cannot be extinct in a fairly woody, scrubby and wild area?
R
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RobV
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AGILIS
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1689 |
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Rob I must point out I have not seen hardly any nats this year even in high density areas but have not put to much time looking , do think somethings happened ? keith
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LOCAL ICYNICAL CELTIC ECO WARRIOR AND FAILED DRUID
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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Can't say Rob really without seeing the site. Refugia + Grass Snake doesn't always = results! I've put tins in similar areas and had dozens of visual sighting and no refugia records at all. Certainly marshy ground can have an affect on the performance of traditional tin in terms of cooling and lack of a suitable 'bed' under the refugia which might be one of several possible explanations.
If you want me to visit the site with you and give an opinion I would be more than happy too, I've some spare Onduline felts too if they might help? For me the grassy season only just began, for sure September into October are the months for grass snake refugia survey in my opinion. The juveniles are about and warm but not hot days have the adults hugging the refugia. For sure nothing beats spring visual survey for grassies in terms of fun, but for pure results and indications of site distribution now is the best time in my opinion, so lack of summer results wouldn't lead me to any conclusions about a site. |
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rickanstis
New Member Joined: 04 Aug 2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Yeah, with you there Gem. Been a great September for snakes so far.
Cheers
Rick
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with best wishes
Rick Anstis Secretary, Surrey Amphibian and Reptile Group 7 Arundel Road DORKING RH4 3HY |
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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More grassies today at the new site:
3 Males and a female this morning, 3 females, 2 males, 3 sub-adults this afternoon and a couple of the slow worms from Sunday put in a show too.
Edited by GemmaJF - 15 Sep 2011 at 6:14pm |
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GemmaJF
Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Location: Essex Status: Offline Points: 4359 |
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I've just had news that a consultant recently 'surveyed' (walked over) this site for the purpose of ecological assessment for an adjacent development. The comment was 'very low potential' for reptiles.
Time to stir it up a bit I think!
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kithara
Member Joined: 21 Sep 2011 Status: Offline Points: 19 |
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very nice post!
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