Snakes alive!

I was in my garden yesterday, when i spotted this little snake having a little sunbathe!
I think it is a slow worm.... I saw them in the garden last year, but this one is much bigger.
How big do they get I wonder?
:cnfs:

I'm going to try and post a photo from my new photobucket account. Let see what happens (if anything!)

 

A Slow Worm (or legless Lizard) it is, adults particularly females can attain 20" they are quite lively now and will find anywhere they can to warm up.
I found three in the polytunnel at work yesterday including a baby.
Yours looks like it has lost it's tail and has a regenerated stump and appears to be a male.

 

The last one of these I saw was when at school back in the 1950's, when a classmate brought one in. I have since seen a Large grass snake and just last year, but always looking out for them When I get down the Bramley Line and part of the Track Clearing Team when I am 'Lookout'.

 

That would have had me leap over our six foot garden fence.

 

Goodness me! How can you tell it's a male? And as for 20 inch long slow worms, I'd best brace myself! The frogs leaping out at me from all their hidey holes is enough to make me squeel, but 20 inch slow worms, now there's something to get thinking about....

 

Females normally have a vertebral dark line along the back and dark sides.
Average size for Slow Worms are about 12", 20" would be an exception so don't panic.:D

I found five today hiding under the ground cover matting in the poly tunnel, two were entwined together so I left them alone, can't imagine what they were doing!:hehe:

 

I would love to find one of those in the garden.

20" long? Do they eat mice at that length lol. Seriously what do they feed on? Perhaps a bit of encouragement?

 

They eat many garden pests slugs,small snails,beetle larvae,they will eat earthworms.

 

I found one last weekend in my garden but I had to move it to safety as my Staffy eats them

 

They are welcome to eat as many things on the list as they like, until they get to the earthworms. I'm fond of those myself, so I hope they leave them well alone! :rotfl:

 

All in all a boon to a garden then. Thanks Walnut.

 

The Slow worms in our polytunnel rest under the mypex ground covering in the daytime next to and sometimes on a red ant colony, they must imune to their bites, as their scales are very smooth maybe the ants can't get a grip. I'll try for some pics.