road kill with a difference. what is it?

[Channa]

Well you think you have seen most things, but yesterday I found this little fella at the side of the road .....thankfully in a state of decease...

I am pretty sure it isn't one of our native adders or grass snakes, I think it possibly escaped from somewhere and met its demise..

Old saying a snake is a steak, but I can't identify it so it looks like a new watchstrap...well it would if I owned a watch ..

Any herpatologists out there ? That can give a positive Id?

Channa

 

[Admin]

it looks like a grass snake to me based in its distinctive collar, they do come in dark colours like that

 

[Somelier]

Yes, definitely a grass snake. Here's an image of a live one:

 

[Firefox]

Cool Jules is our resident herpetologist by all accounts!
[h=1][/h]

 

[Channa]

it looks like a grass snake to me based in its distinctive collar, they do come in dark colours like that

The collar is definitely distinctive, it just looked a bit too tropical for my liking .

What a beautiful reptile....I know snakes will do a runner at the first sign...poor little fella,still not every day you find a snake.

The tail part looks like a rattle...dare say it isn't...

Grass snakes and I haven't seen that many always seemed greener than this little fella..perhaps the fact it was dead


confused the issue ....although felt quite warm...when I picked him up.

too. Much time has passed to eat him....perhaps fishing bait...or just bury the little chap.

Nice to find one in the wild...just a pity he met a Pirelli end

Channa

 

[donkey too]

Cool Jules is our resident herpetologist by all accounts!
[h=1][/h]

Hope thats not catching. :lol-053:

Yes it is a grass snake or slow worm. they come in so many different colours and paterns almost as if they were matching theirselves with the local environment. They are in abundance in the forest and fields where I live. I had a nest of them under a log in my garden last year. fantastic.

There are also an abundance of adders around this area. supposed to be more per square mile here than anywhere in the British Isles. I do know that you can't walk in the forest sometimes without seeing several sunbathing on a good day. Last year there was a lot of dogs fell sick in this area with some dying and it was atributed to adder bites which can be fatal to some animals and indeed to small children and older people.

 

[Somelier]

Hope thats not catching. :lol-053:

Yes it is a grass snake or slow worm. they come in so many different colours and paterns almost as if they were matching theirselves with the local environment. They are in abundance in the forest and fields where I live. I had a nest of them under a log in my garden last year. fantastic.

There are also an abundance of adders around this area. supposed to be more per square mile here than anywhere in the British Isles. I do know that you can't walk in the forest sometimes without seeing several sunbathing on a good day. Last year there was a lot of dogs fell sick in this area with some dying and it was atributed to adder bites which can be fatal to some animals and indeed to small children and older people.

No, it's NOT a slow worm, IT'S A GRASS SNAKE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[snowbirds]

Slow snake

Hi Chana

Maybe it's a cross breed half slow & half GRASS, have you tried to smoke it yet? and Was it killed in the slow lane?.:sad::rolleyes2:

Snowbirds.

The collar is definitely distinctive, it just looked a bit too tropical for my liking .

What a beautiful reptile....I know snakes will do a runner at the first sign...poor little fella,still not every day you find a snake.

The tail part looks like a rattle...dare say it isn't...

Grass snakes and I haven't seen that many always seemed greener than this little fella..perhaps the fact it was dead


confused the issue ....although felt quite warm...when I picked him up.

too. Much time has passed to eat him....perhaps fishing bait...or just bury the little chap.

Nice to find one in the wild...just a pity he met a Pirelli end

Channa

 

[Deleted member 13543]

So, defintely NOT a trouser snake then??? :sad:

 

[Channa]

So, defintely NOT a trouser snake then??? :sad:

I has one of them and deffo no stripes on it.... Ex missus reckoned that space was a premium.....no idea what she meant...

Cheeky channa

 

[Somelier]

So, defintely NOT a trouser snake then??? :sad:

My wife tells me it's too small for a trouser snake:dance:

 

[nij]

Hope thats not catching. :lol-053:

Yes it is a grass snake or slow worm. they come in so many different colours and paterns almost as if they were matching theirselves with the local environment. They are in abundance in the forest and fields where I live. I had a nest of them under a log in my garden last year. fantastic.

There are also an abundance of adders around this area. supposed to be more per square mile here than anywhere in the British Isles. I do know that you can't walk in the forest sometimes without seeing several sunbathing on a good day. Last year there was a lot of dogs fell sick in this area with some dying and it was atributed to adder bites which can be fatal to some animals and indeed to small children and older people.

Thats news to me, you learn something every day! I didnt know we had killer snakes in the UK
I have only ever seen one grass snake in my life (well in the wild and natural environment)

 

[fishy & Nina]

Thats news to me, you learn something every day! I didnt know we had killer snakes in the UK
I have only ever seen one grass snake in my life (well in the wild and natural environment)

I think 'killer' snakes is a bit harsh...........

It's very rare to see an adder as they'd rather stay out of your way than meet up with you - whereas the dogs mentioned above, will be inquisitive and will get the defensive action of the snake:hammer:

Beware the angry grass snake as well - they are not poisonous but can still give you a nasty bite if you mess with them. They though, like the adder, would rather hide away than meet up with a girt big human being.

All part of our diverse and wonderful fauna in this country.

 

[runnach]

I think 'killer' snakes is a bit harsh...........

It's very rare to see an adder as they'd rather stay out of your way than meet up with you - whereas the dogs mentioned above, will be inquisitive and will get the defensive action of the snake:hammer:

Beware the angry grass snake as well - they are not poisonous but can still give you a nasty bite if you mess with them. They though, like the adder, would rather hide away than meet up with a girt big human being.

All part of our diverse and wonderful fauna in this country.

I absolutely agree, and you intimated better than I, snakes will get out the way first and foremost rather than engage in confrontation. Whiich is the reason they are rarely seen.
I
Adders are poisonous but my understandind is for a bite to be fatal, the victim needs to be allergic....along the lines of bee stings and anayphylexic shock.
A bite to a normal person is painful and uncomfortable but not life threatening as such.

To my knowledge only Ireland in the UK has no poisonous snakes.. hence the tale of st Patrick.

 

[snowbirds]

Snake Poison

Hi Chana


If you keep up the alcohol up it will kill off any British snake bite problems, and at the right levels kill the snake as well, we need a good snake recipe? maybe snake & chips.

Snowbirds.:tongue:

I absolutely agree, and you intimated better than I, snakes will get out the way first and foremost rather than engage in confrontation. Whiich is the reason they are rarely seen.
I
Adders are poisonous but my understandind is for a bite to be fatal, the victim needs to be allergic....along the lines of bee stings and anayphylexic shock.
A bite to a normal person is painful and uncomfortable but not life threatening as such.

To my knowledge only Ireland in the UK has no poisonous snakes.. hence the tale of st Patrick.

 

[Channa]

Hi Chana


If you keep up the alcohol up it will kill off any British snake bite problems, and at the right levels kill the snake as well, we need a good snake recipe? maybe snake & chips.

Snowbirds.:tongue:

Half a cider half a lager was known as a snakebite when I was a kid.. lol..

There is a saying in survival schools a snake is a steak....on this occasion I have no intentions of eating the little fella. I took comfort gazing at his colours and what a beautiful yet secretive reptile we have in our own country .

Still his cousins need to watch out.....

Channa

 

[vindiboy]

Very easy to identify your Snake, it is a GOOD SNAKE, the only good Snake is a dead Snake, hate the things.

 

[watchthis]

Hi All
you can find lots of snakes in grass all over the country and some are BIG BUXXERS to--- but sad to say quite a few of them have two feet and legs!!!
Bye for now
Freddie:wave:

 

[Somelier]

Very easy to identify your Snake, it is a GOOD SNAKE, the only good Snake is a dead Snake, hate the things.

That's a very silly point of view. While the adder is capable of giving a venomous bite, our other "snakes" e.g. grass snake and slow worm (not actually a snake, but a legless lizard) are harmless to us humans.

Most people think of snakes as slimy things, but if you handle one, you'll find they feel more like velvet. Generally, fear of animals comes about through ignorance.:idea-007:

 

[Channa]

That's a very silly point of view. While the adder is capable of giving a venomous bite, our other "snakes" e.g. grass snake and slow worm (not actually a snake, but a legless lizard) are harmless to us humans.

Most people think of snakes as slimy things, but if you handle one, you'll find they feel more like velvet. Generally, fear of animals comes about through ignorance.:idea-007:

I would agree, snakes are far from slimy and in my opinion get a rough deal at the hands of mankind.

Adders will not unless provoked strike, indeed their secretive nature induces a gone before you know it attiude.

Because in essence they are solar powered, always a risk when they are drowsy in spring and autumn....great mt. ime really to find one.

I think snakes most other lifeforms inclluding homo sapien are wary of....I once read a cats hiss....when defending itself is an imitation of a snake to ward off predators
I personally think their lives enrich our countryside........and it would be a really sad day if they were lost like other species have to the actions of man
Channa