12028 Snakes

So I am kneeling on our gravel drive doing a spot of light weeding in the borders, when I turn around and see a large black snake lying beside me, I guess the warmer weather is bringing them out, so I have left him/her alone to crawl off again, last seen heading for the woodshed, dont know if this one is dangerous but have treated it with respect and left it alone. My neighbours reaction was to run around and cut it up, but we have left it in peace. Just so that people are aware they are around again , especially I think on warm roads and drives, its the first one I have seen in my garden in the 3 years we have lived here, rather a surprise to have it cosy up next to me!.
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Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 10:22

You are most probably right J&C, but I was still going to leave it alone, didnt have my ISpy reptiles book with me:smile:
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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 03/30/2009 - 12:17

Here is a list of the most common snakes in Italy together with their natural habitats in case you want to identify your unexpected guest.
[url=http://www.kingsnake.com/reptilia-italia/My_HomePage_file/serpenti.htm]serpenti italiani[/url]
I have not seen one as yet in Italy although I have encountered a few scorpions.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 04/14/2009 - 10:50

Thanks for that link. Last summer I saw snakes 4/5 times including, I think, a vipera berus, and interesting that it's present to 9000 feet. Watch out if you are scrambling over rocks! Most of the sightings were neat the river as I had a job driving for a white-water rafting company.