{"id":22924,"date":"2023-01-11T07:38:19","date_gmt":"2023-01-11T06:38:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=134438"},"modified":"2023-01-11T08:35:39","modified_gmt":"2023-01-11T07:35:39","slug":"grass-snake-diet-habitat-identification-and-distribution","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/grass-snake-diet-habitat-identification-and-distribution\/","title":{"rendered":"Grass snake: diet, habitat, identification and distribution"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Kevin Parr\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 11 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Britain\u2019s longest snake, the grass snake \u2013 Natrix helvetica<\/em> \u2013 prefers wetlands where it hunts frogs<\/a>, newts<\/a>, fish and small mammals, sometimes swimming underwater to catch its prey.<\/p>\n

It is the UK\u2019s most common and adaptable snake and is often found in gardens, particularly compost heaps.<\/p>\n

If caught, a grass snake will spray a liquid from the cloaca. This has a powerful smell, a rather heady mix of rotten fish, garlic and ground coffee, which will deter predators. The aroma lingers for many hours if it comes into contact with clothing and some snakes will also feign death, with mouth agape and tongue hanging limp, to accentuate the notion that they are not worth eating.<\/p>\n

Interested in learning more about British wildlife? Check out our guides to snakes<\/a>, frogs and toads<\/a>, and deer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Reptiles of the British Isles\u00a0<\/h4>\n

Discover the fascinating world of snakes, lizards and slow worms with BBC Countryfile Magazine\u2019s guide to Britain\u2019s six native reptiles.<\/p>\n