injured slow worm advice please.

[pipnalfie]

Hi.
I would be very gratefull for any advice please. Whilst walking my dogs in the woods yesterday. I found a slow worm laying on the path with the bottom inch or so of it's tail missing, flesh & tissue. The spine was still present. There were other less prominent marks on it's body. I assumed it had been attacked.
I wasn't sure if it was dead or alive & bought it home. I put it in a tank with some earth & today it seems a lot more lively & happy.
Is it ready to be released back in the area I found it ? Obvously not on the path.
Should it not be hibernating by now ? Will it be able to hibernate ok, once released ?
I'm aware that these shed their tail as a means of defence. But had always assumed it would be bone aswell as flesh ?
As I said, any advice would be very welcome.
Cheers.

[Dogghound]

It should be ok, they do shed tails and grow them back. The lower spine (tail) usually comes off too. They do hibernate which is where I would expect this one to be. I suggest you feed it afew earthworms, then leave it in a cool place then take it to where you found it and pop it under a nice big log thats frost free. Just to check is the wound bleeding? or does it have discharge?, can it move ok? does it feed?

[Wild-Woman]

The bone might need to be trimmed by a vet so that the skin can heal over properly. Most vets treat wildlife for free.

[pipnalfie]

Hi again.

Many thanks for the advice. The tail wound was clean & there was no blood or discharge from it.
I did as was advised & released it where I found it. Thanks again.

[soulseeker]

yes, they do shed their tail for defence. best thing to do is keep it till its got no more cuts or anything, then go back the the woods you found it under a log or something and just leave itthats what i think anyway.