Adders, Grass snakes in my garden

[Jesse]

My garden boarders my self home grown cover and wood piles and wood chip piles, cover is now about 10 years old and has just reached canopy closure, mixed evergreen and deciduous trees, very diverse species mix of trees, I also maintain a variety of different grass heights where it still grows, the range of wildlife is now vast, Owls, Fox, Badger , Deer, Small lizards, lots of snakes. Last year was the first time I had noticed them with possibly 20 to 30 sightings , this year starting this month its reached the point that I now have to be very careful when walking outside, they are fantastic but could they kill a Jack Russel, Found one again just now while out with one of me dogs , dog did not see it and the Adder (i think) was eating a Toed so had it mouth full. Sent some photos to another member and hopefully he will post. Great to see them but why so many or is it just one or two that i keep seeing.

[Jesse]

Grass snake. Adder looks like this. It's a very good picture with strong diamonds. Some arnt this bright and a dull green colour. But the shapes are the same.

 

For the record I hate snakes and I'm petrified of them, I freeze up at the sight of them.

 

Now hang on, is everyone 100% certain that the snake i photoed is a Grass snake as some of the ones do have the strong diamonds, even the photo's its got a pattern, but this one is a dull green.

[Graham]

Now hang on, is everyone 100% certain that the snake i photoed is a Grass snake as some of the ones do have the strong diamonds, even the photo's its got a pattern, but this one is a dull green.

 

Certain.

[Rich2484]

Ok. Here is a comparisons picture of grass snake and adder.

[Rich2484]

Here is a really good page for you to look at. Should clear up a bit over grass snakes and adders.

 

Generally grass snaked have black spots down either side of there body, even with different shades of colour on them he black spots are easy to spot..

 

Adder or Northern Viper (Vipera berus berus)

 

Also for interest where abouts are you as in some places they are very rare.

Edited June 15, 2013 by Rich2484

[Jesse]

Here is a really good page for you to look at. Should clear up a bit over grass snakes and adders.

 

Generally grass snaked have black spots down either side of there body, even with different shades of colour on them he black spots are easy to spot..

 

Adder or Northern Viper (Vipera berus berus)

 

Also for interest where abouts are you as in some places they are very rare.

 

Foot of the Blackdown Hills Somerset, thanks for that, my eyes are not great but it is a blumin big snake !!!

[Jesse]

Ok. Here is a comparisons picture of grass snake and adder.

 

That really kind of you too, but , i can't really see the difference.

[Rich2484]

That really kind of you too, but , i can't really see the difference.

 

The head has bigger scales on it than the adder.

 

The colour tone is also different, the diamonds are really prominent on an adder. They are easier to spot and you will definatly know when you see one.

 

They will hiss if you get close enough, they will also strike out, but the first strike is only warnings, they will only use venom if they are really annoyed, and this is if they are cornered or startled, the adder will back away quietly and disappear when a human goes near.

 

They are nothing to fear, even tho I'm petrified.

[agg221]

The thing that doesn't really show up on the shed skin pictures, but does on pictures of whole snakes, is the white collar on the grass snake, just behind the head. You can see it on your photos, and it's really clear on the real thing. Adders never have it, most grass snakes do, to the point where one name for them used to be collared snakes.

 

Alec

[Rich2484]

Try this link.

 

Some more usefull advice over them.

 

FAQs: adders in my garden?

[Jesse]

The head has bigger scales on it than the adder.

 

The colour tone is also different, the diamonds are really prominent on an adder. They are easier to spot and you will definatly know when you see one.

 

They will hiss if you get close enough, they will also strike out, but the first strike is only warnings, they will only use venom if they are really annoyed, and this is if they are cornered or startled, the adder will back away quietly and disappear when a human goes near.

 

They are nothing to fear, even tho I'm petrified.

Thats great detailing, i can work with that ,i have had the hissing and striking as the fist one i found last year, right outside my back door i did a Steve Urwin, and coaksed it buy the tail into a box and released it deeper in the wood, the wife was freaking out a bit, but shes ok now. The hissing and striking is the grass snake, isn't it ? or have i misunderstood. All is cool now i just leave alone. Just a bit concerned about the dogs being hurt or hurting a snake. Thanks again for your input thats the sort of detailed information thats really helpful especially with my eyes and colour