If they're in the pond the chances of them being adders are very low. Adders are also pretty uncommon in gardens except where they border suitable habitat e.g. heathland with bracken & gorse. They can swim but don't hunt in the water like grass snakes do. Adders have an obvious black/brown zigzag stripe down the back, grass snakes generally have vertical black bars down the flanks and usually an obvious black/yellow collar behind the head.
Grass snakes are very shy and 100% harmless, so no cause for concern. Adders are venomous but not at all aggressive so no danger unless you try to pick them up or are unlucky enough to step on one or so close to it that it feels severely threatened and bites in self defence. Biting is very much a last resort though - they are not going to 'attack' as you might see in a horror film. In any case I'd say these are about 99% certainly going to be grass snakes.
If you can get a photo it would be possible to tell the species for certain. You'd need to approach as stealthily as possible as snakes are very shy and will usually flee rapidly when they spot you (grass snakes especially are very alert). Binoculars are useful to get a good look from a distance.
Thanks for your reply. I tried to take a photo of the larger snake but came out a bit blurred. But the markings on it were definitely black brown zig zag. The smaller one did not seem to have any markings but it was gone in a flash as soon as it saw me. I will keep a look out and try again. Could it be a family of snakes ?. Any way happy to let them carry on as they seem to be happy. My pond is three foot from my patio doors and because of the current heat they are left open most of the day, would the snakes want to come in the house ?? Neil
Snakes are solitary and don't live in families, so it's just a coincidence that you have 2 together. Does suggest a decent population in the area though.
It's unlikely that snakes would particularly want to enter the house, especially if people are around, but it's obviously a possibility if the doors are open.
Even a blurry photo might help to ID it, unless it's totally unrecognisable, so you could upload it.
Might be worth phoning your local Wildlife Trust to see if there is a local Amphibian & Reptile group or reptile expert who could give you advice.
Hard to locate but the snake is in the Lily to the right of the platform for any frogs toads etc to climb out and also where the platform is there's a lead going into the garden and the snake is parallel with it on one of the photos.
I can just about see the snake in the 2nd photo but too small to make out any detail. A pond like that though would be quite attractive to grass snakes. They would generally avoid open areas like the lawn and the bare decking, but the planted area immediately behind the pond looks like it would provide suitable cover for basking in the sun (when it's cooler - not in the heat of the day unless they've been in the water and need to warm up again).
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If they're in the pond the chances of them being adders are very low. Adders are also pretty uncommon in gardens except where they border suitable habitat e.g. heathland with bracken & gorse. They can swim but don't hunt in the water like grass snakes do. Adders have an obvious black/brown zigzag stripe down the back, grass snakes generally have vertical black bars down the flanks and usually an obvious black/yellow collar behind the head.
Grass snakes are very shy and 100% harmless, so no cause for concern. Adders are venomous but not at all aggressive so no danger unless you try to pick them up or are unlucky enough to step on one or so close to it that it feels severely threatened and bites in self defence. Biting is very much a last resort though - they are not going to 'attack' as you might see in a horror film. In any case I'd say these are about 99% certainly going to be grass snakes.
If you can get a photo it would be possible to tell the species for certain. You'd need to approach as stealthily as possible as snakes are very shy and will usually flee rapidly when they spot you (grass snakes especially are very alert). Binoculars are useful to get a good look from a distance.
Thanks for your reply. I tried to take a photo of the larger snake but came out a bit blurred. But the markings on it were definitely black brown zig zag. The smaller one did not seem to have any markings but it was gone in a flash as soon as it saw me. I will keep a look out and try again. Could it be a family of snakes ?. Any way happy to let them carry on as they seem to be happy. My pond is three foot from my patio doors and because of the current heat they are left open most of the day, would the snakes want to come in the house ?? Neil
Snakes are solitary and don't live in families, so it's just a coincidence that you have 2 together. Does suggest a decent population in the area though.
It's unlikely that snakes would particularly want to enter the house, especially if people are around, but it's obviously a possibility if the doors are open.
Even a blurry photo might help to ID it, unless it's totally unrecognisable, so you could upload it.
Might be worth phoning your local Wildlife Trust to see if there is a local Amphibian & Reptile group or reptile expert who could give you advice.
I can just about see the snake in the 2nd photo but too small to make out any detail. A pond like that though would be quite attractive to grass snakes. They would generally avoid open areas like the lawn and the bare decking, but the planted area immediately behind the pond looks like it would provide suitable cover for basking in the sun (when it's cooler - not in the heat of the day unless they've been in the water and need to warm up again).
I have contacted Devon Wildlife Trust to hear there views. I will let you know if they come back to me.
Quite an adventure really !!!