 |
|
|
feeding then breeding ?: |
| Author | Message |
|
will Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 330  View other posts by will |
Posted: 02 Apr 2007 Had my best grass snake day for many years - gave up counting when I got to 30 animals at my local site, but I noticed that 3 of them (all males) had clearly been feeding on the local frogs / toads - very big bulges in central part of body, complete with protruding elbow / knee joints. I had assumed that grass snakes would be like adders, ie strictly no feeding til after breeding, but these males were clearly intent on the former or both activities. Is this the norm in your experience for grass snakes ? If so, do males and females feed before / during breeding or just males - and if the latter, are these males foresaking breeding for the sake of having a meal instead ? Cheers Will |
|
armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 02 Apr 2007 Males and females will feed before, and during breeding virtually as soon as they emerge. I have actually seen a female copulating and with a toad half down her throat; this was at Norden 1999. 'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
|
herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369  View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 03 Apr 2007 I would get that site reported Will as it sounds like an candidate for a Local Wildlife Site on grass snakes alone! Was that in Herts or Essex?
Regards
Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
|
will Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 No. of posts: 330 View other posts by will |
Posted: 03 Apr 2007 Hi Jon Greater London - well known site - and fully protected for once ! Cheers Will |
|
herpetologic2 Senior Member Joined: 15 Jun 2004 No. of posts: 1369 View other posts by herpetologic2 |
Posted: 03 Apr 2007 Great
Jon Vice Chair of ARG UK - self employed consultant - visit ARG UK & Alresford Wildlife |
|
Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 04 Apr 2007
Will, Any greater london site producing 30 Nn individuals in a day is exceptional. Like Jon said, it needs reporting to the local records herp group. Cheers R RobV |
|
Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 06 Apr 2007
Hi Tony, "Males and females will feed before, and during breeding virtually as soon as they emerge. I have actually seen a female copulating and with a toad half down her throat; this was at Norden 1999." hey tone, I bet you've seen some things eh? Well, we all know that Grass Snakes like to climb trees, how about, like to mate in them as well! have you ever seen that before? R
RobV |
|
armata Forum Specialist Joined: 05 Apr 2006 No. of posts: 928 View other posts by armata |
Posted: 06 Apr 2007 Very nice - one way of getting away fro other harassing males! have seen them mating in a gorse bush but never up a willow like that - nice observation and capture.  'I get my kicks on Route 62' |
|
Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 06 Apr 2007
haha, well sussed out Tone! there we were just admiring one another, when all these bl**dy males come up and ruin the moment! LOl RobV |
|
Robert V Senior Member Joined: 06 Aug 2004 No. of posts: 717 View other posts by Robert V |
Posted: 06 Apr 2007
Chased her all over the place, thought they were squirrels, not Grass snakes! R RobV |
- feeding then breeding ? |
