snakes

[samplatt]

Hello,
i'm new here, so be gentle with me! could anyone tell me when and where it is the best time to see a british snake, in the wild (I know its not now!) I want to show my son...we will be very patient, we live in the manchester area and holiday in the lakes, does anyone know? I have NEVER seen one, the closest I got was a slow worm in south wales.

sam.

[nye24]

Down here in wales we get adders,grass snakes,slow worms,best chance would be on a warm summers morning,were you might see one warming it self up on a large flat rock,or have a glance under some old tin sheet thats always worth a look,good luck nxt year.

[Hedge Witch]

Yes - those tin sheets. Every time I see one, I'll look beneath. I haven't seen a sausage so far though

[Adam Cheeseman]

better still on a sunny march/april morning when they have just emerged from hibernation, they will be more sluggish and unlikely to disappear quickly. Just need to find out where to look in your area! Try your local wildlife trust or herpetological society.

Cheers,

Adam

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

Yes - those tin sheets. Every time I see one, I'll look beneath. I haven't seen a sausage so far though

There are many strange things in sausages, but they rarely cause them to hide in the countryside.

[demicav]

Spring is the best time, when they spend a lot of time warming up basking in the sun, although I can virtually guarantee seeing them most of the year round in certain areas, it depends if you know where to look. They move around more as the year goes on and are much quicker once Spring has passed. Maybe you could contact your local reptile group and ask them for advice or offer to volunteer. Good luck.

[Kayleigh]

Paul O'Grady got Attacked by an adder lol
They do like to sensationalise the tabloids
I cant believe this oeoeoeoe..
Fended it off with a broom..

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | O'Grady recovers from snake bite

What really happened he went to get some wood for the fire the snake bit his arm as he went to get the wood..
He saw blood then saw the snake it did not attack him..He did not fend it off with a broom..

[marvin]

hi there

there are reptiles fairly close to you.

Reptilea & Amphibians : Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester & North Merseyside

Amphibian and Reptile Group of South Lancashire - About Us

ARG-UK - Amphibian & Reptile Group of United Kingdom (try derbyshire)


try here for help/advice when you are in the lakes.

Reptiles and Amphibians of Cumbria

as people have already stated, spring is often the best time to see snakes - while they are emerging from hibernation but the weather is still cool. having said that my children and i have seen a lot of snakes mid-afternoon this summer because of all the cloudy weather with temps struggling to reach 20c.

for guidance on reptile spotting techniques it's worth looking at the narrs information http://www.narrs.org.uk/nrspack.htm it gives a good summary of opitimum times and conditions.

it can take considerable time to find your first reptiles. if this is the case don't give up, perservere and you'll be rewarded. but if you can find someone locally who knows where to look it will be much much easier.

good luck

tim

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Paul O'Grady got Attacked by an adder lol
They do like to sensationalise the tabloids
I cant believe this oeoeoeoe..
Fended it off with a broom..

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | O'Grady recovers from snake bite

What really happened he went to get some wood for the fire the snake bit his arm as he went to get the wood..
He saw blood then saw the snake it did not attack him..He did not fend it off with a broom..

I know what you mean Kayleigh. When I read those headlines I thought "here we go again".