Snake in my pond!!

I do hope some of you can help - the other week my OH saw a snake on the lawn with one of the goldfish in its mouth!

Having taken a good look and scared it off we have deduced that its a grass snake.It was quite large at over a foot long ( OH reckons nearer a metre but there may be some exaggeration there!!)

We have a sneaking suspicion that one by one this snake is eating our fish.....

Does anyone have any advice as to what to do?

Thanks!

 

Yes it will have been a grass snake wilroda. They eat fish newts etc. I found this link out for you, not new, but gives you the idea. It's just nature I suppose.

P.S. I keep snakes ! :wink:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2358120.ece

 

Well... you learn something evertyday in these boxes. Thanks for the education.

 

Thanks everyone! ....my pond is alive with newts frogs and fish, a veritable take away for this snake!

I suppose - having read all your interesting links - that i now have to add grass snakes to my collection of wildlife around my pond and let nature take its course.

It is just such a shame that my goldfish seem to be on the menu at present!!

If i ever get a picture i will put it on here for you all to see.

 

I'd prefer my fish to go as snake food rather than cat food but I guess neither is ideal.

I'd love to have the odd snake in my garden but I can see the problems.

 

Hi wilroda, I have as a kid caught grass snakes up to a metre in length, but the average length is between 90 - 110 cm. I don't know how you can stop the snake(s) taking your fish, other than sitting by the pond and waiting for it/them to show up for dinner. if you move fast enough you might just be able to grab it, you could then release it away from the area, although grass snakes are non venomous they can still bite, careful how you handle them.

Pete

 

Somehow it seems better ( if you can call it better ) than being taken by a heron