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Grass Snake · Field Guide · Things With Wings

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Grass Snake

Natrix helvetica

Not yet photographed by the community

UK's longest snake; yellow collar and loves water.

Species Profile

Protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; UK conservation status is Least Concern, though locally threatened by habitat loss and persecution.

Lifespan: 10–15 years in the wild, up to 20 years in captivity
Size & Weight: 60–90 cm (females larger than males); occasionally exceeding 1 m; 50–150 g
Habitat: Wetland and semi-aquatic environments including ponds, ditches, marshes, reed beds, and damp meadows, often near water but adaptable to various habitats.
UK Distribution: Found throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; largely absent from northern Scotland. Resident year-round but less active in winter months; range expanding northwards.
Diet: Primarily amphibians such as frogs and newts; also small fish, occasionally small mammals and invertebrates.
Prey: Common frogs, smooth newts, great crested newts, sticklebacks, tadpoles, insects
Predators: Badgers, foxes, herons, grass snakes are often preyed upon by larger snakes, particularly adders in sympatry; young vulnerable to corvids and shrikes
Mating Season: April to May
Breeding: Females lay 8–40 elongated white eggs in June–July in warm, moist locations such as compost heaps or rotting vegetation; incubation takes 6–10 weeks; single clutch per year.

Sources and editorial status

The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.

Profile generated 22 June 2026

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