RAUK - Archived Forum - Hello and a question

Hi,

I'm a new member!

I've always been interested in reptiles and amphibians and my favourite by a long way is the grass snake.

I have been on few "herping" expeditions this year - I've travelled miles but not had a lot of success(!)

Although I live in the countryside near Bristol (and have lived here for 13 years) I was under the impression that there were no grass snakes in my local vicinity (despite always looking I have never seen anything) but then whilst out with the dogs yesterday, and only half a mile from my house, I found a baby one squashed on a country lane (poor little fella!).

The area where I found him is littered with paddocks and manure heaps and I would be very interested to know where exactly he hatched out.

I gather that baby grass snakes will have only hatched out recently and will not venture too far from the ""egg sight" which I assume is one of the dung heaps. Does this mean that the nest sight is very close by or could he have travelled a fair old distance?

Thanks

Paul

PS Great forum - It's nice to know that there are other people who are interested and who care!!

Paul, welcome !

Check out this link for a first-order idea of where to find Grass snakes in the Bristol (or any other) area.

http://www.searchnbn.net/interactive/map.jsp?srchSp=NHMSYS00 00080231

Evening Vicar

Looks like there were a couple of sightings there back in 1975!!!

Nice to know they are still around though - I guess I ought to report my sighting.

It would be really nice to track down the egg laying sight though - something to keep an eye on next year.

Paul

Welcome Paul,

I would say there is a good chance that you are right about the dung heaps being the egg site. Do you know the land owner? If so you could ask permission to place some artificial refuges around the area and see if you can find some more hatchlings, in my experience this is the best way to locate the young.

Thanks for the advise Gemma.

I have found SIX manure heaps - all possible sites !!??

Many are in paddocks with horses and some very close to the lane so I am slightly worried about placing refugia here for fear of the horses tredding on them and also the snakes being run over - also I haven't come across the paddock owners yet.

I have however tracked down the land owner of the biggest manure heap and rather encouragingly he has seen snakes on this heap before although not for many years.

With his permission I have today laid down some refugia but he did mention that in the next month or two he will be spreading it over his fields - if it is the right sight, and he does it in October or November isn't it likely that there will be some snakes hibernating in it?????