Topic: Slow worms habits?

[Old bird]

Does anybody know when slow worms are likely to be out and about - or more importantly - when they are likely to be "at home" and out of danger.

I want to strim my paths and I have a bank with slow worms in it and have the horrors of cutting one of them!

I am guessing that they need a bit of sun/warmth to get them going in the morning but would appreciate any input!

Old Bird

 ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

They like sunning themselves in warm weather, but apart from that they tend to be nocturnal. Mostly they disappear during the day, into anthills or thick grass, under stones or into holes in the ground.

[Toadspawn]

They are quite timid so at the first sound you make walking on the path and certainly when the strimmer starts they will probably go into hiding.

[Old bird]

Thanks for the input guys!

I have a nest of them in one of my older compost bins and I now have 3 generations living in there!  They are most likely to be in a knot of bodies when it is warming up in the morning and when the sun is setting!

I think that I will have to start my strimming very early.  I think they are similar to adders and need heat to get moving so I doubt that they are nocturnal - I think I will have to do a bit more to find out their lifestyle before strimming away - the trouble with them going into hiding is where I want to strim!

Old Bird

 ::) 

[Old Central]

OB

We have them on our site and I have quite a bit of blurb on them.

IIRC it is suggested to tramp over the area you intend to strim to warn them off. I'll see what else I can find on the subject.

It is one where I am trying to get a specialist in to our site to help us live with them by understanding them better.

OC

[Old bird]

Thanks for that OC - let me know if you manage to find out anything!

It is one of my nightmares cutting one by accident - I have done this a few times with lawnmowers and strimmers and I find it totally ghastly!

OB

[Old Central]

OB

It is obvious that they shed their tails - as they don't seem to fully regrow. But as you say I would rather avoid it than try it out!

OC

[Robert_Brenchley]

They definitely shed their tails, though they need more provocation to do so than common lizards, which drop theirs at the slightest provocation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/281.shtml

[Old bird]

OC & Robert

Many thanks to you both for your input. One of my slow worms did have an accident last year and his/her tail was stubby but it does depend on where they are cut!

Apparently there is a point and if they are cut above this particular point they die and below they regrow their tail.  Probably to do with internal organs which I suppose they must have!

They shed their skins in my compost heap and I have whole lengths of shed skins I don't think that they "shed" their tails though as a natural thing - but just if they get chopped they regrow!

OB

[Robert_Brenchley]

They drop them to provide a diversion when attacked. The lizard makes its escape while the predator is busy with the tail.

[keef]

I have them in a compost bin too, they've been in there for a couple of years now - should have emptied the bin ages ago really but dont want to evict them. I assume they help with slugs etc. so i dont mind really...

[tishop]

Sorry, I really should of looked down the topic list before starting a new thread ::)

Here's positive proof that they're good against slugs:



Tim
http://plot61a.blogspot.com/