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Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: Suzanne on June 07, 2008, 10:29:50

Title: New garden resident!
Post by: Suzanne on June 07, 2008, 10:29:50
I always thought grass snakes were small animals, when we first saw this one we thought it was an escapee from someones collection. We managed to get a picture, and we think it is just over 4 ft long. I have since read up on them and the can get to 180cm  :o

Thank goodness they are shy retiring types. We have seen it several times since as we have a good frog/toad population, I know this as our hosta's are generally never damaged.

Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on June 07, 2008, 11:22:03
Males are usually around 3-4 feet, females 4-5 feet. They coil up pretty small, but they're certainly long.
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: posie on June 07, 2008, 11:24:19
 :o :o Whoa if I saw that in my garden I think I'd move!!! I don't mind iddy biddy grass snakes but that would send me running for the hills! lol
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: Fork on June 07, 2008, 11:26:25
OMG!........where did you find the courage to get so close with the camera...or did you have a massive lens  ;D

Im such a coward....I would have been in the next village about 10 seconds after I saw it on my lawn!
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: Suzanne on June 07, 2008, 12:25:24
He (or more likely she) started to move away very quickly, we were about 10 ft away when this was taken. One more step and one more picture and it was gone.

Have to say it seems to like the stones near the bird bath as good cover but also the stones are warm, and also our hidden store at the back of a big Robinia - which worries OH he says he needs to tie string round the ankles of his trousers. I have said I thought that was for ferrets! If I tell you his reply I shall have to go to the watershed.  ;D
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: honeybee on June 15, 2008, 10:46:16
Amazing picture  :o And yes I would be running a mile too  ;D
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: debster on June 15, 2008, 11:03:24
you big bunch of woosies, i would only have moved if it was poisonous, i think they are beautiful got a lovely piccie somewhere of me cuddling a snake
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: lorna on June 15, 2008, 15:01:08
Brilliant photo. I think they are beautiful providing I am sitting here and looking at it on screen :)
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: star on June 18, 2008, 16:29:19
Fantastic pic, I love to see them but not in my garden.........they eat frogs and toads :(
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: spudsmummy on June 28, 2008, 19:06:57
omg if i saw this any where near my house i think i might have pooped myself and ran away.
Gr8 pic though
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: Kea on July 13, 2008, 13:30:15
Suzanne I just checked which part of the country you live so i make sure I never go there!! :o
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: Trixiebelle on July 13, 2008, 14:57:11
ERK!  ;D
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: calendula on July 13, 2008, 17:53:48
Lovely, I adore snakes - curiously, a few years ago there was a car accident outside our house and the occupants were ok but we brought them inside and got them checked out - they had a small cobra with them only about 18 inches and it looked great moving around on the sofa and when I held it, gosh was it tight round my fingers - good job it was a young one but the police and paramedics that attended were freaked out  ;D
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: Paulines7 on July 14, 2008, 12:46:58
Here is a picture of me three weeks ago with a snake in the reptile house at Longleat.  I thought I would be scared but once I knew it was harmless, I was pleased to be offered the opportunity to hold it.
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: Suzanne on July 14, 2008, 22:34:34
I have never had the opportunity to hold a snake, but would love to give it a try.  Apparently we have lots of snakes in the village this year, a small one has been found run over on the road, which is really sad.

Also one got into our neighbours conservatory when the doors were left open - the lady of the house found it curled up on the warm stone floor under a chair.

However, I can mention none of this to my best friend who is absolutely petrified of snakes - she may never come to visit if i tell her how large the snake is!
Title: Re: New garden resident!
Post by: Kea on July 15, 2008, 18:56:13
If I found that on my allotment I'd probably never go back.