Grass Snakes at the British Wildlife Centre

The British Wildlife Centre Collection

Grass Snake - Natrix natrix

The grass snake is the largest reptile in Britain, growing to about one metre long. Its preferred habitat is damp areas like ponds, reservoirs and marshes, also making use of the surrounding terrestrial habitat such as grassland, scrub and woodland.

They feed mostly on amphibians and small fish. If threatened, they may lie still, pretending to be dead, but can rear up in mock attack, hissing. They also excrete a foul-smelling substance, particularly if handled, but are otherwise completely harmless to man.

The females mate at most every other year, but can live to 25 years of age. Unlike the other native British snakes, they lay eggs and incubate them until they hatch in late summer.

In warm weather they can be seen basking in the sun. Like all snakes, they are cold-blooded and can only be active and hunt when they raise their body temperature in this way.

Grass Snake (Natrix natrix)

Origin:	Native	British Distribution
Size:	Length; males up to 90 cm, females up to 130 cm.
Description:	Variable colour, usually olive-green, but grey or brown is not unusual. Characteristic orange or yellow collar around the neck.
Habitat:	Sites associated with water; ponds, reservoirs and marshes but with access to dry land with grass or shrub cover.
Young:	10 - 40 eggs laid in June or July, incubated by the female. Hatched in August or September and immediately independent.
Diet:	Frogs, toads, newts, lizards, voles and small fish.
Population:	Pre-breeding season estimated to be 320,000
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