Slowworm

slowef · #1 (**permalink**) 15-05-2007, 09:50 PM

Found a large slowworm in my garden today it was a good 20" long and lovely bronze colour. It looked very healthy and like it had not long eaten by the bulges in it.

demicav · #2 (**permalink**) 16-05-2007, 09:47 AM

How lovely. They're great aren't they ?

phil2 · #3 (**permalink**) 16-05-2007, 03:35 PM

great,where about are you?

SparklySarah · #4 (**permalink**) 16-05-2007, 04:44 PM

Love those, they're really cool. Haven't seen one in ages though.

Don't know if there are any round here.

WildSam · #5 (**permalink**) 24-05-2007, 05:33 PM

I love slowworms. I have only seen one once but I do look for them when ever I can.

slowef · #6 (**permalink**) 25-05-2007, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildSam

I love slowworms. I have only seen one once but I do look for them when ever I can.

Sorry for the delay been so busy. I am in WIltshire near Salisbury. I bought this house and moved in 6 mnths ago, it had been owned by 2 old people and the land (2 acres) and garden have been neglected for some time. This has allowed lots of wildlife to develop and establish itself. We are making changes to bits of it but there is a lot we intend to leave so that we do not distrub the ideal environment which has delevoped for them.

Sightings so far: Numerous birds and butterfly's, a baby mole, slow worms from 3 inches to 20+, insects galore many of which I cannot or do not want to identify ( hate bugs) and many more furry creatures mice and voles. I am sure somwhere out there we will have other snakes and creatures so await our discoveries!! or for us shocks :-)
I have put a couple of pics of some of the overgrown garden which has now grown more, a haven for wildlife!! a nightmare for a gardener

Toad Girl · #7 (**permalink**) 17-06-2007, 02:25 PM

Heya
If you put down some sheets of corrugated iron in a sunny spot they are sure to be found under this!!! I have a pet one at home and she is great. If you pick one up they will wriggle a bit but soon settle down!!!

slowef · #8 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 06:18 AM

We have an abundance of log piles/sleepers, rubbish, corrugated iron etc all round the property which we are doing up. We have found quite a few slowworms now. I have left several areas not needed by us as designated nature areas so they can still find haven and food. We have so much room its no sacrifice to us and a bonus of sharing with these beautiful creatures.

demicav · #9 (**permalink**) 18-06-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toad Girl

Heya
If you put down some sheets of corrugated iron in a sunny spot they are sure to be found under this!!! I have a pet one at home and she is great. If you pick one up they will wriggle a bit but soon settle down!!!

I know slow worms are protected from being injured or killed and also from being sold. Don't know if this extends to keeping them as pets, could be a grey area. I am totally against keeping them as pets. Their numbers have dwindled in the wild and if people started taking them as pets this could further impact on their numbers as it has with other species in other countries.