I’m confused by what you mean as every country has reptiles, so do you mean privileged to have few or privileged to not have any dangerous ones (except the adder of course)
I always leave a corrugated iron sheet out for the snakes when I am at my home by the river in Oxford. I check it every day and about 10% of the time there is a snake coiled up underneath usually with a giant bulge. They use the heat to help them digest frogs. If you grab them from the air they freak out (predator response), but if you get them to snake over your hand you can hoist them up without triggering their defence reactions. Probably my fondest memories from this life.
@@BritishHerpetology Same here, got home from work this afternoon and saw one in the front garden. It slithered away under the hedge as I got near. I got a good look at those markings on it's side though. We get lots of frogs in our garden so they must have attracted the snake.
I caught one in a hospital pond when I was four, I thought it was an eel when I got it in my net. My dad had to take it out because he thought it was an adder. He let me hold it when we found out it was a grass snake.
Grass snakes - I have them in my garden, seen them twice in 30 years. They are almost black here in Denmark, but they still have the two yellow dots behind the head.
They do like to vary in colour and confuse people from time to time. Glad you've got them in your garden, and that you have such a positive association with them!
I work in a place that's next to a field and a lake. Yesterday I had a grass snake come into the building where I work. It went into a narrow gap. I had to pull it out by its tail then I grabbed it behind the head. Went outside and put it under some bushes. I've always wanted to see a grass snake. They have such nice patterns. Really beautiful snake! It really made my day having the chance to not only see one but to handle one too. I had no idea if they had the tendency to bite or not but I was quick and firm. If I ever have the chance to hold one again I can probably be a little more gentle.
I saw a 5' one as thick as an arm on the Lleyn Peninsula, North Wales, decades ago. I caught it's tail so it took a strike at me before it pulled itself into a hedgerow. I was a boy and could not hold it back, it was so strong! My mum and dad were screaming! LOL!
Only yesterday I spotted one slither along a lilttle stream and into a hole by a post. Funny thing I was on the bog while I saw it out of the caravan window and shouted snake! Bit of confusion with the other peeps in the caravan.
Black plastic sheets work well too. I'm in France and was just checking whether the weeds were being destroyed per plan this morning under the sheeting I'd put down, and there's a couleuvre verte et jaune (the French version) sitting there. Normally they're off like a shot but this one sat around long enough for me to get video. Very beautiful creatures. French versions are a bit chunkier than the UK ones... this was a juvenile and it was still over a metre long.
Your map was out of date. No confirmed recorded sightings of grass snakes in County Durham or Northumberland since the 90’s. But they have been sighted in Dumfries and Galloway recently. A suspected deliberate release. In case you’re all wondering who I am, I led a habitat improvement project for grass snakes at one of their last known sites and a county wide survey effort 2016-18 with no results.
Unfortunately, we had no input with the creation of the map. It is a shame that grass snakes are seemingly missing from the north-east. Hopefully, they will come back in the future with the help of projects like the one you are involved with!
I've only ever seen these a couple of times, in recent times I saw a large one about just over a metre in length which I disturbed under a huge pile of decomposed grass cuttings by a woodland where I'd been working. In no time at all it slithered off into the leafy wood. Took me by surprise 😮
I did catch my first grass snake when I was 6 years old. It had bright orange spots at the back of its head and was a juvenile about 15cm long.We converted an old aquarium into a Terrarium and lodged her for a week for observation, then released her at the same spot where I found it. Some years later I spied a neighbours cat galloping across the parking ground with something long hanging down from both sides of it`s head. I was a grass snake, so I scared off the cat and brought the snake to a local pond where she escaped quick into the water!
Only ever seen 2. One dead on a rd and another swimming past in water. I caught it as wanted a good look at it and let it go but my hands absolutely stunk. Oh as writing this he actually mentions about the smell. Nice to see thoe.
That's a barred grass snake rather than the common grass snake. The common grass snake has the full collar round it's neck where the barred variety, the collar isn't complete around the neck and it has black bars along its side.
There is only one species of grass snake native to Great Britain, and it can be called either the barred or the common grass snake, depending on your preference.
My nans cat decided to bring home a baby grass snake so I went over and saved it now I have it in a tub with a dish of water just to let it recover . Looks a little under weight . Edit : dw there is reptile soil and grass in there for it to hide .
@@BritishHerpetology That is not the right place for me, I live in Denmark at the moment - as does the grass snake, and the slow worm I saw a few days later. I feel lucky having all those critters around me!
@@BritishHerpetology We have quite a lot of reptiles around here, thank you, but I wondered about the red dragonflies - found out that the global heating have made them move north. Sympetrum sanguineum as I found out.
@@BritishHerpetology Almost right, although I think you are thinking of Iceland. There are no snakes in Ireland for the simple reason they couldn't get there because the climate wasn't favorable for them to be there
@@dominicklewis6042 No I', talking about Ireland. Most of Great Britain was under 2 km of ice too which created quite the geographical barrier. www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/iceAge/home.html
@@BritishHerpetology The common lizard occurs in Ireland,so why not the Adder?, Both reptiles can be found within the arctic circle in countries where the ice receded later than in Ireland or GB.Just asking.
Steve Backshall,what a top bloke, buy him a pint anytime
Good man
I got to meet him filming once, great guy
Apparently he’s a right prick actually.
Absolutely
Yeah agreed guys. I'd also take him back to my place
Truly privileged to have the reptiles here in Britain.
I’m confused by what you mean as every country has reptiles, so do you mean privileged to have few or privileged to not have any dangerous ones (except the adder of course)
@@harrison7259 Er yes 😂
I think were privaleged that we have them, but they are also ines that wont nip you once and youre stone cold dead 1 minute later
@@harrison7259 Not every country has reptiles, just look at Iceland as an example ;)
@@harrison7259no they dont😂 uneducated fool
I always leave a corrugated iron sheet out for the snakes when I am at my home by the river in Oxford. I check it every day and about 10% of the time there is a snake coiled up underneath usually with a giant bulge. They use the heat to help them digest frogs. If you grab them from the air they freak out (predator response), but if you get them to snake over your hand you can hoist them up without triggering their defence reactions. Probably my fondest memories from this life.
Not pounding a pretty girl like in this video?
Absolutely wonderful clip. This year's Springwatch is really quite something, and I think it's thanks to Steve. He's really cool.
Found a grass snake in my garden today first one I've seen, no wonder there's frogs everywhere
Sounds like a very wise grass snake! Please be sure to record the sighting here: www.recordpool.org.uk/
@@BritishHerpetology Same here, got home from work this afternoon and saw one in the front garden. It slithered away under the hedge as I got near. I got a good look at those markings on it's side though. We get lots of frogs in our garden so they must have attracted the snake.
I caught one in a hospital pond when I was four, I thought it was an eel when I got it in my net. My dad had to take it out because he thought it was an adder. He let me hold it when we found out it was a grass snake.
beautiful snake, lovely green colour and the yellow band round the head just makes this reptile so stunning
When I saw a pic of a Grass Snake and an Adder, the only way I was able to know what they were bc of one episode of The Animals Of Farthing Wood lmao
Just found a grass snake in our garden sunning itself on the warm side of a water fountain. Beautiful creature.
Grass snakes - I have them in my garden, seen them twice in 30 years. They are almost black here in Denmark, but they still have the two yellow dots behind the head.
They do like to vary in colour and confuse people from time to time. Glad you've got them in your garden, and that you have such a positive association with them!
I work in a place that's next to a field and a lake. Yesterday I had a grass snake come into the building where I work. It went into a narrow gap. I had to pull it out by its tail then I grabbed it behind the head.
Went outside and put it under some bushes. I've always wanted to see a grass snake. They have such nice patterns. Really beautiful snake!
It really made my day having the chance to not only see one but to handle one too.
I had no idea if they had the tendency to bite or not but I was quick and firm. If I ever have the chance to hold one again I can probably be a little more gentle.
They don't tend to bite, but to musk on you and play dead. Glad you had such a positive interaction with a grass snake :)
I had no idea they grew that big. Amazing. Pretty amazing to think that Bears and Wolves also used to live in Britain at one time.
I saw a 5' one as thick as an arm on the Lleyn Peninsula, North Wales, decades ago. I caught it's tail so it took a strike at me before it pulled itself into a hedgerow. I was a boy and could not hold it back, it was so strong! My mum and dad were screaming! LOL!
And a Rhino fossil was found in Wales
@@kevinchamberlain7928
Ive only seen one, years ago. But it was only a bit fatter than a shoelace.
@@andyaim4764
That's awesome.
Longest one in Britain was measured at five feet ten inches. Seven footers observed on the continent.
Only yesterday I spotted one slither along a lilttle stream and into a hole by a post.
Funny thing I was on the bog while I saw it out of the caravan window and shouted snake!
Bit of confusion with the other peeps in the caravan.
Could you please record your observation here? Thanks in advance :) www.recordpool.org.uk/
I saw my first grass snake today in Kings Lynn, just 6 inches long
Have you seen any since?
@@BritishHerpetology no....
@@johnmasters504 That's a shame to hear, best of luck for the future and finding more snakes!
Bound to water? We've got our own little anacondas
They're semi-aquatic but yeah, you could think of them as that. Just far smaller and more smelly.
Black plastic sheets work well too. I'm in France and was just checking whether the weeds were being destroyed per plan this morning under the sheeting I'd put down, and there's a couleuvre verte et jaune (the French version) sitting there. Normally they're off like a shot but this one sat around long enough for me to get video. Very beautiful creatures. French versions are a bit chunkier than the UK ones... this was a juvenile and it was still over a metre long.
Your map was out of date. No confirmed recorded sightings of grass snakes in County Durham or Northumberland since the 90’s. But they have been sighted in Dumfries and Galloway recently. A suspected deliberate release. In case you’re all wondering who I am, I led a habitat improvement project for grass snakes at one of their last known sites and a county wide survey effort 2016-18 with no results.
Unfortunately, we had no input with the creation of the map. It is a shame that grass snakes are seemingly missing from the north-east. Hopefully, they will come back in the future with the help of projects like the one you are involved with!
Steve is a really nice guy
I've only ever seen these a couple of times, in recent times I saw a large one about just over a metre in length which I disturbed under a huge pile of decomposed grass cuttings by a woodland where I'd been working. In no time at all it slithered off into the leafy wood. Took me by surprise 😮
Could you please record it here? www.recordpool.org.uk/
I am new to your channal. I love the fact u hight light the uk snakes
I took a boat trip in Stratford Upon Avon and was lucky enough to see one swimming in the river.
That's great! How long ago was this?
@@BritishHerpetology This was only last week. Just upstream of the town centre where there is some wild grassland behind the leisure centre.
I have one in my garden ,saw it last week next to my plant pots
Be sure to record your observation here: www.recordpool.org.uk/
I did catch my first grass snake when I was 6 years old. It had bright orange spots at the back of its head and was a juvenile about 15cm long.We converted an old aquarium into a Terrarium and lodged her for a week for observation, then released her at the same spot where I found it. Some years later I spied a neighbours cat galloping across the parking ground with something long hanging down from both sides of it`s head. I was a grass snake, so I scared off the cat and brought the snake to a local pond where she escaped quick into the water!
Where was this Stefan?
@@BritishHerpetology Here in Germany, near the town of Kiel, Holstein!
Only ever seen 2. One dead on a rd and another swimming past in water. I caught it as wanted a good look at it and let it go but my hands absolutely stunk. Oh as writing this he actually mentions about the smell. Nice to see thoe.
never seen a grass snake b4 look awsome
This is a Barred Grass Snake.
All grass snakes in Great Britain are, apart from a few populations of introduced European grass snakes.
@@BritishHerpetologyfunny the common Grass Snake is not native.
That's a barred grass snake rather than the common grass snake. The common grass snake has the full collar round it's neck where the barred variety, the collar isn't complete around the neck and it has black bars along its side.
There is only one species of grass snake native to Great Britain, and it can be called either the barred or the common grass snake, depending on your preference.
My nans cat decided to bring home a baby grass snake so I went over and saved it now I have it in a tub with a dish of water just to let it recover . Looks a little under weight .
Edit : dw there is reptile soil and grass in there for it to hide .
I've never heard a better intro to a story "My nan's cat decided to..."
@@_Shadbolt_ 😂😂
Grass snakes are sooo cool!!!!
We think so too!
I'm lucky to have one in my garden this summer, and a couple of small red dragonflies
Be sure to record it here! www.recordpool.org.uk/
@@BritishHerpetology That is not the right place for me, I live in Denmark at the moment - as does the grass snake, and the slow worm I saw a few days later. I feel lucky having all those critters around me!
@@sablatnic8030 Apologies, my mistake! Great to know you've got plenty of reptiles around!
@@BritishHerpetology We have quite a lot of reptiles around here, thank you, but I wondered about the red dragonflies - found out that the global heating have made them move north. Sympetrum sanguineum as I found out.
I just seen a grasssnake out on the river mole fishing, most diffinately a female looked all of a metre long ...😊
Amazing news! If you could record your observation here that would be grand! www.recordpool.org.uk/
So interesting. When I think of the UK I think of The Who. Never would even associate snakes with the UK. Very eye opening.
Both animals were Natrix Natrix!
Use to catch them back in the day as you say when got hold of an adult open there glands make sure you have gloves on🥴🐍
They do produce a bit of a smell!
💚💚💚
Saw a grass snake the other week, about 4ft long. There proboably more rarer than adders. I’ve only ever saw 2 in my entire life”
Please record your sighting here - www.recordpool.org.uk/
Barred grass snake
We only have the one species of grass snake in the UK.
CcherryNjx is right. We have two species of grass snake. One is common and the other barred
How come in England and not ireland ?
During the last Ice Age, a lot of Ireland was under ice and snakes couldn't colonise it.
Thanks
@@BritishHerpetology Almost right, although I think you are thinking of Iceland. There are no snakes in Ireland for the simple reason they couldn't get there because the climate wasn't favorable for them to be there
@@dominicklewis6042 No I', talking about Ireland. Most of Great Britain was under 2 km of ice too which created quite the geographical barrier. www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/iceAge/home.html
@@BritishHerpetology The common lizard occurs in Ireland,so why not the Adder?, Both reptiles can be found within the arctic circle in countries where the ice receded later than in Ireland or GB.Just asking.
Good job u cant smell it the big one's musk and it stinks and yep they get a lot bigger
In Poland they are smaller, what a pitty
I want to go in this place to photograph these snakes someone has the address
It's down the road from my town!
😎😎😎😎😎😎
Somebody at bbc wanted to have fun with their new drone I guess 😂
Didn't realise the awful habit of starting a sentence with "so" had already begun in 2018. Urgh.
Nice little video otherwise though.
miserable prick
Just saw a dead grass snake in the woods without a head and I’m literally crying I’m too scared
They are unfortunately often the victims of persecution, despite their intentional harm and killing being illegal.