Snake id? (non trouser snake content)

[shouldbworking]

Spotted in my garden a short while ago. Don't know what it is but I assume it is a grass snake? picked it up and sent it in the general direction of the overgrown riverbank that runs next to my house where I guess it came from.

[central]

Slow Worm.

[becksW]

It's a slow worm, beautiful creatures and protected because they are going down in numbers.

They are legless lizards and I think the only lizard native to our country.

I believe there is (or was) a website where you could register slow worm sightings so they could keep track of numbers.

They are timid creatures and like dark, warm places, my parents get them in their garden, they used to have loads in a rarely used compost heap that was covered with an old carpet. It had to be moved/got rid of but my Dad carefully went through it relocating all the slow worms he could find!

Edited by becksW on Sunday 27th June 18:56

[Laurel Green]

That is a young Boa Constrictor and, will be back to get you when it grows up a tad.

[Killer2005]

becksW said:

It's a slow worm, beautiful creatures and protected because they are going down in numbers.

I believe there is (or was) a website where you could register slow worm sightings so they could keep track of numbers.

And also they aren't snakes

[otolith]

Yep, slow worm, a legless lizard rather than a snake. I'm afraid our cats have had a few this year

[becksW]

Killer2005 said:

becksW said:

It's a slow worm, beautiful creatures and protected because they are going down in numbers.

I believe there is (or was) a website where you could register slow worm sightings so they could keep track of numbers.

And also they aren't snakes

Added that to my edited post before I saw your reply

[otolith]

There are another one or two native lizards, but they are in more trouble than slow worms are.

[plg]

I never knew Slow Worms were so rare... loads in Devon - counted 9 in one allotment last summer.

Mind you, it is nice and warm down there.

Surprisingly I have never seen one in Yorkshire

[becksW]

plg said:

I never knew Slow Worms were so rare... loads in Devon - counted 9 in one allotment last summer.

Mind you, it is nice and warm down there.

Surprisingly I have never seen one in Yorkshire

I'm not sure they are classed as rare yet, it's just that it has been noticed that their numbers have declined.

[sunbeam_alpine]

I think they must be getting a lot rarer. When I was a kid I'd find loads. I can't remember the last time I've seen one.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Our garden has quite a few slow worms and common lizards but you rarely see them. Most commonly see parts of slow worms after the magpies have finished with them. A lizard found it's way into my bedroom and lived like a Gecko would until I managed to catch it. Can see adders close by, saw a really black one recently. It's stealth and knowing when/where to look.

[Reload]

plg said:

Surprisingly I have never seen one in Yorkshire

My mum spotted one in Huddersfield

It was when she was a kid though. She reckons it's the cause for her snake phobia.

[pits]

Closer I have come to a slow worm is an adder.