Best way to find (british) snakes in the wild?

[Barney_M]

What the best way to find grass snakes and adders in the wild? what kind of habitt do they like? I saw my first ever grass snake today in a pond. any tips to finding more?

thanks

[cooljules]

Originally Posted by Barney_M

What the best way to find grass snakes and adders in the wild? what kind of habitt do they like? I saw my first ever grass snake today in a pond. any tips to finding more?

thanks

i know but i wont say, there being disturbed, hassled as it is, even from well meaning people..

you just need to go on a sunny day to places where they like (sort of like a very large viv) and sit and wait for the sun to rise....so they come out to bask.

you seem to have worked out where grass snake was, cos of its food..so its not rocket science!

[vetdebbie]

In our case - in the downstairs bathroom! Blooming cats brought it in (it's a slow worm though rather than a snake and it's totally fine by the way).

[Lucifus]

Good luck getting people to tell you where to actually find them. Come summer im hoping to go down a local area and photograph wild adders and hopefully some grass snakes. Took ages to find out about that area though.

[DavidR]

Have a look online for local nature reserves that might be suitable. Get up early on a day with some sun, and look in potential basking spots. Adders are out and about now, if you wait until summer your chances of seeing any are greatly reduced, as they don't bask for any length of time in warm weather. Don't get bitten!




David.

[Athravan]

Corrugated iron or large flat rocks will hold the most heat in the morning sun where adders will bask - but it also helps to be a relatively secluded area with hiding places & a likelihood of a rodent population. Never seen an adder in an urban area myself but I'm told it happens.

Grass snakes I've seen plenty along river banks and swampy areas but also quite a few in the city.

Slow worms (whilst being lizards are worth a mention) can be quite easily found in urban areas so are the safest bet for seeing british reptile life.

We get a lot of calls in the summer about adders but last year every single one turned out to be a juvenile grass snake or a slow worm (and one a corn snake!!). We had two calls from the council about adders that needed relocating as they were in children's parks but of course by the time we got there were long gone - and were probably grass snakes anyway!

[SleepyD]

Originally Posted by cooljules

i know but i wont say, there being disturbed, hassled as it is, even from well meaning people..

*nods*
though I've got a good selection of grass-snakes, slowworms and the odd adder down the bottom of my garden ~ the compost heap and under the shed during winter; under the old metal wheelbarrow, on assorted slabs etc during summer

[Emoe]

There are loads of adders in the Thetford forest area, and again i agree with the comments above, they are being disturbed WAY too much, especially by the people who have no idea about our native snakes.

Id advise anyone Dont go looking for them, if you are out and about and happen to see one, then you are priveliged!

[beguana]

when i was little aout 7 my teacher told us he found a adder and took it home and kept it :\ i was horrified stood in frount the whole school and shouted at him told him he was a stupid man, that it was a wild animal and he took it away from its life!
i said i hope it bites him lots of times and he dies!.....
oh man did i get a telling off
but i was right!

[wolves121121]

Originally Posted by cooljules

i know but i wont say, there being disturbed, hassled as it is, even from well meaning people..

im sorry but most of the disturbance to our native herps comes from the countless dog walkers(who let there dogs off there leads), people who cant stick to the paths and trample through everything and worst of all natural england, other local wildlife organizations and local councils who continue to destroy reptile habitat in the name of clean up, heather restoration and habitat improvement.

not the few people who actually go out looking for them

i think reptiles in this country come last when up against birds and mammals.

to the OP join NARRS see if you can get to one of there training days and sign up to search a grid square in your area, you might find some reps and you'll be doing some good to

to everyone else if your out an about or looking for reptiles report your sightings to the BHS and your local wildlife organizations