Is this a baby adder? (with pic)

[hmm]

Hello,

I came across this snake earlier, it was under a tarp next to some firewood on a sheet of plywood used to keep the firewood off the ground. I have to move it off the grass so I could cut it (grass was about a foot long and is the same as you'd find in a field). I live 1/4 mile from the river avon and there's lots of fields, etc round me.

One of my friends says it is, but I can't see any zigzag markings on it, also as I found it in damp-ish surroundings I wasn't sure (I've been reading about them for half an hour and found they only like dry areas?).

Are there likely to be more? The grass is normally kept about 3-4" long, it's rare it gets as tall as it was.

Are they endangered too? I know nothing about them, I thought it was a grass snake at first. Seemed to be a little sluggish as I moved stuff out the way then got a bit of a wriggle on after I let it go (that's a bit of wood you can see- I lightly pressed on it for 10 secs so I could take the pic).

It was about 6inches in length. How old do you think it is?

Thanks

[aeshna5]

It's a young Grass Snake. The eggs are often laid in compost heaps or other rotting vegetation that provides sufficient heat.

[The Woodman]

Grass snakes are quite harmless and becoming less common than they were.

Eggs are laid in clutches usually in piles of damp or rotting vegetation, as aeshna5 says - sometimes in compost heaps. There are likely to be others of the same age around. A good excuse to start a compost and help conserve this native snake.

[hmm]

ah boooo! I was hoping it was adders, bit of excitement, but I am relieved- I can cut the grass without fear of my ankles being attacked, haha.

There's all sorts of places they could lay their eggs within about 50 yds of there, one of which being a never ending pile of grass cuttings, so I'm sure there'll be plenty lurking in the bushes!

I spoke to my mum earlier and she reminded me about the one she found about 5 years ago, must have been 4-5ft long. There's all sorts of things appearing of late, mainly to do with the nature reserves they built about 1/2 mile away from me I assume. In the past few months I've seen countless birds I've never seen before (I don't know what they are, some sorts of birds of prey) and deer among other things.

All very interesting!

Thanks for clearing that up for me!

[ViperaBerus]

It would be last years young too. If it is only six inches long, then it is doing quite poorly and should be around 14 inches plus by now. The prominent spinal ridge evident in the pic confirms this unfortunately. Hopefully it can get a couple of easy meals and pull itself back into condition. The young grass snakes normally hatch around late Summer.