Grass Snake
The Grass Snake is the UK’s largest terrestrial reptile reaching up to 6 feet in length although such large specimens are rare. Females are considerably larger than males and typically reach a size of 2 feet 11 inches to 3 feet 7 inches when fully grown whilst males are approximately 8 inches shorter.
The Grass Snake is typically olive-green, brown or greyish in colour with a variable row of black bars along the sides, occasionally with smaller round markings along the back in double rows. The underside of the Grass Snake is off-white or yellowish with dark triangular or rectangular markings. A characteristic black and yellow collar is present behind the head.
The Grass Snake is one of only 3 snakes to occur in the UK and it is distributed throughout lowland areas of England and Wales. It is almost absent from Scotland and is not found in Ireland at all which has no native snakes.
The Grass Snake is an aquatic species that is usually closely associated with water where it preys almost entirely on amphibians, especially the Common Toad and the Common Frog, although they may also occasionally eat mammals and fish. It is a strong swimmer and is found in habitats featuring ponds, lakes, streams, marshes and ditches which provide access to sunshine for basking and plenty of shelter. The Grass Snake may also be found in open woodland, rough grassland, wet heathlands, gardens, parks and hedgerows.
The Grass Snake, as with most reptiles, is at the mercy of the thermal environment and it needs to overwinter in areas which are not subject to freezing. Therefore it will typically spend the winter underground where the temperature is relatively stable.
Date: 24th May 2023
Location: Noak Bridge Nature Reserve, Noak Bridge, Essex
The Grass Snake is typically olive-green, brown or greyish in colour with a variable row of black bars along the sides, occasionally with smaller round markings along the back in double rows. The underside of the Grass Snake is off-white or yellowish with dark triangular or rectangular markings. A characteristic black and yellow collar is present behind the head.
The Grass Snake is one of only 3 snakes to occur in the UK and it is distributed throughout lowland areas of England and Wales. It is almost absent from Scotland and is not found in Ireland at all which has no native snakes.
The Grass Snake is an aquatic species that is usually closely associated with water where it preys almost entirely on amphibians, especially the Common Toad and the Common Frog, although they may also occasionally eat mammals and fish. It is a strong swimmer and is found in habitats featuring ponds, lakes, streams, marshes and ditches which provide access to sunshine for basking and plenty of shelter. The Grass Snake may also be found in open woodland, rough grassland, wet heathlands, gardens, parks and hedgerows.
The Grass Snake, as with most reptiles, is at the mercy of the thermal environment and it needs to overwinter in areas which are not subject to freezing. Therefore it will typically spend the winter underground where the temperature is relatively stable.
Date: 24th May 2023
Location: Noak Bridge Nature Reserve, Noak Bridge, Essex
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Also in: Snakes
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