15 October 2010

Last chance to see this year – the grass snake

(photo credit: Mark Barber)

The grass snake, Britain’s largest snake, is a secretive amphibian eating species that is widespread throughout the UK but they in decline. As autumn blows in adult grass snakes will be heading back to their hibernation sights and eggs laid this year have hatched during the last month. Mark Barber from the Conservation Ecology Research Team (CERTs) at Swansea University has been undertaking a research masters on the ecology and distribution of this species for the last year. He is in need of more records in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot counties. As can be seen from the map below (green squares post 1999 records, red squares pre 2000 records), Gower has quite a few records but there are still many gaps that need filling.



The known distribution of grass snakes on Gower – can you help fill in the blanks?



South & West Wales Amphibian & Reptile Group are always happy to receive any records for our native herpetofauna, old or new. So please email any grass snake or other herpetofauna sightings to records@swwarg.co.uk.

More information can be found at this link:
http://www.swwarg.co.uk/images/swwarg%20records%20poster.jpg

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