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Grass snakes in the compost

Last post 06-07-2009 9:37 PM by Digger. 21 replies.

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  • 06/07/2009 04:00 PM
    In reply to
    • miranda
    • Oxfordshire
    • 17 Nov 2004
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    There are some very good grass snake pictures here, including one of a snake playing dead and another of some snake eggs found in a muck heap.

    Had a message from my friend who told me that any eggs should hatch next month and the young snakes will then make their way to the pond nearby. He said that the adult snakes might not hibernate in the compost but instead find rabbit holes or tree roots to sleep under. Guess they prefer it a bit cooler for hibernating?

  • 06/07/2009 04:04 PM
    In reply to
    • Susiq
    • Northumberland
    • 16 Feb 2008
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    What an amazing pic Miranda - just shows how clever all kinds of animals can be hey! Must admit I love our toads too, more than I would snakes!
  • 06/07/2009 04:39 PM
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     Love the pictures! I envy you having the snakes, Rosa. We've got two large compost bins and we keep hoping our two ponds will be an encouragement, but no luck so far.

    Just to say, re handling grass-snakes, that the evil-smelling substance they put out if disturbed by their handling is absolutely loaded with salmonella - so very thorough hand-cleaning is always needed after handling them at all. More info about grass snakes (and a lot of other wildlife...) here.

  • 06/07/2009 06:29 PM
    In reply to
    • Digger
    • Northern UK
    • 18 Jul 2005
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    Yes good website you found Miranda, maybe you will have eggs in your compost.

    digger Devil
  • 06/07/2009 07:41 PM
    In reply to
    • miranda
    • Oxfordshire
    • 17 Nov 2004
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    I bet you 10p there are eggs in the compost, digger. Not that I can really dig it all up to find out, but I reckon there must be some in there for the snakes to have made burrows.

    Didn't know about the salmonella thing. Looked it up and found that there is a chance of any snake carrying it. Why?

  • 06/07/2009 09:34 PM
    In reply to
    • sue1002
    • Ipswich, Suffolk
    • 06 Sep 2005
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    Sorry Miranda but I can't resist this - could it be that they might have eaten an uncooked egg?

    sue1002
  • 06/07/2009 09:37 PM
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    • Digger
    • Northern UK
    • 18 Jul 2005
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    I wonder why? but it's like slugs and snails carrying lungworm ? of foxes with hookworm etc... I suppose it's a tiny risk to get salmonella from them if you touch them a lot. OH used to keep snakes ribbon snakes and corn snakes way before we met though, I've seen some really nice looking snakes at the pet shop but they're a bit scary and I don't like seeing them in little tanks with not much room to wiggle around .

    digger Devil