Is this something I should concern about?

Yesterday I found a snake in the garden. It is not too big. Is it dangerous to children? I am a bit concerned.

 

It's a slow worm, a legless lizard. It's a big 'un, looks male too. I only get females.. they're harmless btw.

 

That's not a snake but a slow-worm - a legless lizard. Totally harmless and actually quite useful, as they eat insects etc. They are quite rare these days and are protected, so please cherish yours - it is most likely living in your compost heap. | The Wildlife Trusts

PS As a small child staying at my grandmother's I once created a sensation by sneaking one in from the garden and dropping it on the Sunday lunch table! (Don't tell your children or they will want to try this too!)

 

No adding the slow worm to the slow cooking thread

 

I want one or two

 

Thanks! I had no idea it is not a snake.

 

I have quite a few all different sizes living mainly in the compost heap. Generally have at least two pairs of grass snakes in the bottom of the compost heap, again harmless although much bigger, and they also breed in there so in the autumn find quite a lot of baby grass snakes.

 

I have quite a few slow worms, .............on the allotment, of course

They tend to hide under anything that warms up at this time of the year, so I have the odd bit of corrugated iron sheet lying around, as you do.

Dont pick them up by the tail, they are likely to shed it and although it's a defense mechanism they can only do it once.

Actually wish I had a few snakes, that would be really interesting.

 

I've not seen any on the allotment yet, my cats normally bring a mauled one home ..there's a field and railway line behind so if the grass gets long we normally have a few

 

I tend to think cats are their main enemy, see quite a few chewed dead ones each year.