Like the Adder they may only produce young every second year when conditions are unfavourable.A maximum of 15 young are produced after a gestation period of around 90 days. Reintroduction programmes have helped establish…Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) This adaptation means that it is not as swift as our other snakes, however, it is well suited to navigating dense vegetation. Pairs stay together for one or two days after mating. To learn more about each snake, click on the thumbnail to open a detailed species account. The Wildlife Trusts is a movement made up of 46 Wildlife Trusts: independent charities with a shared mission.There are three species of snake native to the UK: grass snake, adder and smooth snake. Grass snakes vary in colour but are usually olive-green, however, grey or brown is not unusual. Only those that are susceptible to anaphylactic shock (hypersensitivity allergic reaction in humans and other mammals) are at major risk. This shape is where the name Coronella comes from, which means coronet (a small crown). Often, this starts with the flowing behaviour before culminating in the dramatic ‘adder dance’. They do however take small mammals such as mice, voles and shrews. Each species account includes information on: If you have any concerns regarding a snake issue we would advise you to contact the RSPCA or your local Zoo for specialist help and advice, as snakes need to be dealt with using very specific skills. The edge of the snout is usually raised into a low ridge. British Snakes - The Smooth Snake The smooth snake is confined to the Southern Counties of England as it generally feeds on lizards that are unable to live further north. They can swim well, so if you are lucky, and quiet, you may spot one. Identification. This is repeated until one of the two becomes exhausted and crawls off to find another mate.Females usually give birth in August-September, however, sometimes as early as July, or as late as early October. Depending on where you are will affect what type of snake you're more likely to see.The adder is a greyish snake, with a dark and very distinct zig-zag pattern down its back, and a red eye.
Please consider becoming a member of your local Wildlife Trust today.Despite appearances, the slow-worm is actually a legless lizard, not a worm or a snake! British grass snakes basking in a sunny, sheltered position. They are usually spotted in wetlands and grasslands but can be seen in gardens too. The British population belongs to the species called barred grass snake (Natrix helvetica), which was split as a separate species from the common grass snake in … The rare smooth snake can only be found at a few heathland sites in the UK. It does however support three types of native British snake and quite a few different species of lizard. Grass snakes are equally happy on land and in water, and walkers may spot them basking in the sun on the towpaths, or swimming across the canal. They shed their skins for the first time within a day or two. And there wasn’t just one. order back issues and use the historic Daily Express We studied two areas where different genetic lineages of the grass snake come into contactProfessor Uwe Fritz - Senckenberg Research InstituteThe only other British snake, the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), is also non-venomous and extremely rare.Grass snakes, which grow to more than a metre (3ft) in length, live near water mainly feeding on amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts.The barred grass snake is greyer in colour than its olive green cousin and lacks its most striking feature, a bright yellow collar.Along the body are dark bands that are much more pronounced than they are in the common grass snake.It used to be thought there was just one overall species of grass snake plus a number of subspecies that varied in appearance.Professor Uwe Fritz, from the Senckenberg Research Institute in Germany, who led the international team of researchers, said: "We studied two areas where different genetic lineages of the grass snake come into contact.A heron and a snake got into a most unusual fight - over a FISH SUPPER. The only other British snake, the smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), is also non-venomous and extremely rare. Males tend to be more silvery-grey in colour, while females are more light or reddish-brown. The stronghold of the British animals is the heathlands of Dorset, although many of the heaths along the Surrey/Hampshire borders also support strong populations.In Surrey, the Smooth snake shows a marked preference for dry lowland heathland, comprising mosaic mature heather with a deep moss sub-structure to the vegetative layer.Smooth snakes feed mostly on lizards and other reptiles, including small snakes such as young adders and grass snakes. Our UK technicians are not trained or qualified to handle snakes. The young snakes, measuring around 14 to 23 centimetres, are born with a fully functional venom apparatus and a reserve supply of yolk within their bodies. In the UK, the Smooth snake is thought of as a heathland specialist, although it will happily hunt in grassland habitats.