What was it?

moneyistooshorttomention

:eek:

Have been out doing some gardening today and lifted something up to spot a long plain brown thing about 1' or so long wiggling frantically to and fro. It didn't stop moving and I nearly took off straight across the garden away from it when I spotted it:eek:_pale_.

Bad enough to spot slugs, but at least expected in a garden.

I've not seen anything like that before ever.

I managed to summon up courage and a gardening spade and scooped it up and tossed it as far away as I could.

Since then...I've googled "grass snake images" to see if that was what it was, but all those pictures seemed to have markings on them. This thing didn't. It was just plain brown and probably about 1" in circumference and kept twisting to and fro and to and fro some more frantically.

Does hope its not planning on heading back into my garden again......

I presume I should keep a spade to hand to belt it one with firmly if it does and that should deal with it?

Any ideas on what it was - and whether I can expect it to bring "friends" along with it....

marleyboy

Similar to this??

Tigsteroonie

Sounds like a slow worm to me - and I should warn you that if it was, then it's a protected species.

moneyistooshorttomention

Yes...that looks like it.

Yuk!

If its a protected species (oh boy = just what I need) then how can I best persuade it to move gently onwards as far away from my garden as possible? Maybe it headed towards my blinkin' garden because of my doing my best to discourage cats (I may just change my mind on that point if this is the result.....).

ljonski

sloe worm ...........

moneyistooshorttomention

Two choices then is it? Make darn sure and certain the weeds are kept well under control in future or buy some K*t-I-K*t and leave it lying around....

somethingcorporate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anguis_fragilis

moneyistooshorttomention

Definitely positively identified as a slowworm then.

Lets hope it doesn't come visiting again.

I shall be exercising distinct caution after this whenever I remove weedproof membrane from anywhere in the garden in future just in case...

Dizzy_Ditzy

Slow worms eat slugs...

My problem is keeping my cat away from them. She seems intent on "doubling" the population :eek:

Babafette

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Definitely positively identified as a slowworm then.

Lets hope it doesn't come visiting again.

I shall be exercising distinct caution after this whenever I remove weedproof membrane from anywhere in the garden in future just in case...

Don't be scared of it, slow worms won't hurt you and they are a gardener's friend - they love slugs and snails!

DaftyDuck

You were scared of it, yet you are threatening it with a spade? C'mon, show some love, kindness, and environmental responsibility! You were shouting about organic gardening not long ago, and having a slowworm would have most environmentalists jumping for joy, not reaching for a weapon.