Please help: What snakes have we got?

baz_chaz

HI NatGreen

I'm sure you'll find that they are slow worms, if you 'google' the images you'll get a good selection the ones in our garden are very pale yellow but they have dark stripes running the full length of the body.
Sometimes have come across them almost bronze coloured, put this down to time of year/skin shedding or the likes, never seen one longer than a foot overall

Rikki

NatGreen wrote: »

Thank you, I think it's the most close image. So I want to think that they were slow worms. The place was covered with plastic sheet, the website says they like it.
Do young adders always have a pattern? Just to be sure that I do not have them next to my allotment...

Adders are grey or reddish brown with a more angular head and you can see the diamond markings quite clearly.

I saw my first adder a few weeks ago. :j Only 12 inches long but I was impressed.

NatGreen

Thank you very much to all. I did not notice any side patterns, BUT I was ten meters from the spot after I heard the word "snake". So I hope it was slow worm. If Baz Chaz says that "their" slow worms are also very pale, then "ours" must be the same kind.
I do not want to meet adder at all. I even do not like to look at the images of snakes, it must be a phobia. Sorry I do not want to offend those who likes them.

Lotus-eater

An adder will be alot more scared of you, than you of it.*
You really don't need to worry about adders very much, Being wary of them is normal and healthy. Adders will try to remove themselves from the area around you if they sense the vibrations. So if you are worried, don't tread stealthily though overgrown areas and bash any pile of vegetation before moving it.

The adder is the only venomous snake native to Britain. Adders have the most highly developed venom injecting mechanism of all snakes, but they are not aggressive animals. Adders will only use their venom as a last means of defence, usually if caught or trodden on. No one has died from adder bite in Britain for over 20 years. With proper treatment, the worst effects are nausea and drowsiness, followed by severe swelling and bruising in the area of the bite. Most people who are bitten were handling the snake. Treat adders with respect and leave them alone.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/Adder




*Well probably, depends how scared you are

McpPsl

Hi

Here is a picture of a grass snake that had taken residence in my garden.




Regards

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

NatGreen wrote: »

. I even do not like to look at the images of snakes, it must be a phobia. Sorry I do not want to offend those who likes them.

Sorry, but you're going to have to grit your teeth and look, or you're going to be worrying endlessly about it.


These are slow worms. They are lizards with cute little black eyes and the tiniest eyelids. They do not bite.

From what I've read, baby grass snakes look like small grass snakes, baby adders, small adders, baby smooth snakes, little smooth snakes, none of which match your description. Your description sounds most like slow worms, not snakes.

http://www.bucksarg.org.uk/slowworm.html

They're harmless as well as protected (and IMHO, rather lovely).

I hope that helps.

Kaz2904

Anyone got any ideas how I can protect the slow worms in my garden? We are forever finding them under DD's bed where the cat brings them in and very few of them have their tails left . They seem to be getting quite tame or maybe they just know that we won't hurt them and will put them gently somewhere safe?
It wouldn't be so bad if I could train the cat to hunt and eat slugs would it!

tomstickland

I found a slow worm in a friend's garden that I was working on. I don't particularly like snakes, but these were really nice to see and slithered off quickly. Yes, I know, slow worms aren't snakes, but they look like them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92961862@N00/3946068638/in/set-72157622310472533/