Barred Grass Snake

The Barred Grass Snake is a harmless snake that lives both on land and in water. It usually grows to between 90 and 150 centimetres long. It can be told apart from the common grass snake by its darker, more noticeable bars along the sides. It often has little or no yellow ring around its neck, although some do have pale markings there. Its colour is generally grey-green or olive, with strong vertical bars that make its pattern stand out more. This snake is found across western Europe, including England and Wales. It prefers wet places like ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving rivers. It is a good swimmer and hunts frogs, newts, and fish in the water. When it feels threatened, it may pretend to be dead by rolling onto its back with its mouth open. It also gives off a bad smell from its rear end to scare off predators. The Barred Grass Snake is most active during the warmer months. It spends the winter sleeping in safe places where it can stay protected from the cold.