I've been clearing my wall of ivy and almost put my fingers right onto this little bugger in-between the stones on the wall. I'm sure it isn't a slow worm, must be a snake, perhaps a young one. Any help identifying it would be great. I'm in the middle of France, altitude 700m. apologies for the lack of detail on the pic but it's the best I can muster up.

Yep, that's definitely a snake.

Looks like a grass snake from here, but seeing as you're in France, I wouldn't want to be testing that id too closely.

They're typically that olive green colour with the intermittent black blocks.

Ah! Le Adder Noir!

Hard to tell from the picture. I’ve had a quick google of snakes in France and the closest looking one to the six I saw listed is a Vipera aspis atra.

Saying that it does say that they’re found in southern France, so could be wrong.

Be careful (obviously). It does say that they are venomous - more so than the European adder and 4% of untreated bites are fatal!

I bloody hate snakes!

Adders (vipers) have a distinctive black zig-zag pattern down the centre of their back - but it's really hard to tell from that photo. They tend to be more brown, even to orange, but some are a similar green to grass snakes. Which is really unhelpful.

It’s a smooth snake.

Are you sure it’s not a handbag?

TheOriginalLongsider wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 6:58 pm

Are you sure it’s not a handbag?

A handbag?

clansman wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 6:50 pm

It’s a smooth snake.

I think you're right, Clansman, just reading up on them now. Seems to fit the characteristics, i was about head height with it and picking off bits for a good minute or so around the stone it was resting in until I noticed it, the snake didn't budge, timid little thing. Thanks

I love threads like this, so in no way take this as a criticism, but asking about a french snake on a small town in northern england football teams fan site, and seemingly getting the correct answer within the hour, is ludicrously brilliant.

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 7:23 pm

I love threads like this, so in no way take this as a criticism, but asking about a french snake on a small town in northern england football teams fan site, and seemingly getting the correct answer within the hour, is ludicrously brilliant.

Don't worry the usual suspects will be along and find some way of turning it into a political argumentative snoozefest

Leave the snake be, chances are it's probably harmless but better safe than sorry, if you do need to move it which from the sounds of it you do to clean the wall, find a stick or a coat hanger or something similar & gently prod it to move it or use a water spray, it will eventually get the hint.

distortiondave wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 7:23 pm

I love threads like this, so in no way take this as a criticism, but asking about a french snake on a small town in northern england football teams fan site, and seemingly getting the correct answer within the hour, is ludicrously brilliant.

It's why I love this forum. If in doubt or struggling to find info on something, it's always worth a crack asking folk on here.

Jakubclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 7:41 pm

Leave the snake be, chances are it's probably harmless but better safe than sorry, if you do need to move it which from the sounds of it you do to clean the wall, find a stick or a coat hanger or something similar & gently prod it to move it or use a water spray, it will eventually get the hint.

I'm going to leave it be for the evening, commence work again tomorrow morning and see if it's vacated its spot. Quite dense brush in the work area, so going to take it all quite carefully. One thing's for sure, I'll be aware of what can rest in the cavities now I've encountered this little chap. It's usually lizards, they're everywhere, I wasn't expecting a snake at all.

4:20 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 8:22 pm

I'm going to leave it be for the evening, commence work again tomorrow morning and see if it's vacated its spot. Quite dense brush in the work area, so going to take it all quite carefully. One thing's for sure, I'll be aware of what can rest in the cavities now I've encountered this little chap. It's usually lizards, they're everywhere, I wasn't expecting a snake at all.

It might be eating thise lizards!

4:20 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 8:22 pm

I'm going to leave it be for the evening, commence work again tomorrow morning and see if it's vacated its spot. Quite dense brush in the work area, so going to take it all quite carefully. One thing's for sure, I'll be aware of what can rest in the cavities now I've encountered this little chap. It's usually lizards, they're everywhere, I wasn't expecting a snake at all.

It's full of critters france, I used to live in the south of France I'd often watch gecko's at night on the veranda come out to hunt clever creatures knowing that the night light attracted the insects.

4:20 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 6:34 pm

I've been clearing my wall of ivy and almost put my fingers right onto this little bugger in-between the stones on the wall. I'm sure it isn't a slow worm, must be a snake, perhaps a young one. Any help identifying it would be great. I'm in the middle of France, altitude 700m. apologies for the lack of detail on the pic but it's the best I can muster up.

IMG_20230615_191711.jpg

We have a few snakes in Brittany,if you are working in long grass always wear wellies.


















.

I don’t think it will cause you too much bother. On the other hand, if you were in Australia and it was a light brown snake you would need to be very wary.

It's a happy snake. It's smiling to itself.
Voila, thees eengleesh fuckeur. Ee thinks je suis un viper terribleu. Je will just stay ere en make eem merde eemself if ee comes any closer. From ees accent, ee is un bastarde fan. Tu wait, evil Davide dun, je will get Tu avec moi tongue quiverrai.

timshorts wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 9:57 pm

It's a happy snake. It's smiling to itself.
Voila, thees eengleesh fuckeur. Ee thinks je suis un viper terribleu. Je will just stay ere en make eem merde eemself if ee comes any closer. From ees accent, ee is un bastarde fan. Tu wait, evil Davide dun, je will get Tu avec moi tongue quiverrai.

Tha's come over all officer Crabtree there timshorts

Jamesy wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 9:43 pm

I don’t think it will cause you too much bother. On the other hand, if you were in Australia and it was a light brown snake you would need to be very wary.

I was picking sweet potatoes in Oz in 09' and had the bucket between my legs while on my knees, scooping the tats in with my right hand and resting my left hand on the soil to keep my balance. After shuffling up the row a few metres, using the same technique, I felt something wriggling under my left hand, moved it away and there was this young snake coiling around itself about a metre long. I shat it but didn't know what type of snake it was. I called to the farmer, he jumped off his tractor, came over and as I pointed to the snake he said, "that's a brown snake, it'll kill you"..and with that, he took his spade and stabbed it in half. Then he said, "It's a young one, its mother might be about, keep a lookout", and walked back to the tractor.
I can't begin to tell you how much panic, anxiety and fear I had going on after that. Genuine fear. I never did see its mother, thank god.

timshorts wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 9:57 pm

It's a happy snake. It's smiling to itself.
Voila, thees eengleesh fuckeur. Ee thinks je suis un viper terribleu. Je will just stay ere en make eem merde eemself if ee comes any closer. From ees accent, ee is un bastarde fan. Tu wait, evil Davide dun, je will get Tu avec moi tongue quiverrai.

Jakubclaret wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 7:41 pm

Leave the snake be, chances are it's probably harmless but better safe than sorry, if you do need to move it which from the sounds of it you do to clean the wall, find a stick or a coat hanger or something similar & gently prod it to move it or use a water spray, it will eventually get the hint.

Hopefully it is as has been identified, particularly with advice such as this, Jakub.

“Gently prod it to move it” (using something as short as a coat hanger) . That sounds like a sure fire way to get a bite from an animal cornered against a wall.

Definitely looks like a grass snake

4:20 wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 10:06 pm

I was picking sweet potatoes in Oz in 09' and had the bucket between my legs while on my knees, scooping the tats in with my right hand and resting my left hand on the soil to keep my balance. After shuffling up the row a few metres, using the same technique, I felt something wriggling under my left hand, moved it away and there was this young snake coiling around itself about a metre long. I shat it but didn't know what type of snake it was. I called to the farmer, he jumped off his tractor, came over and as I pointed to the snake he said, "that's a brown snake, it'll kill you"..and with that, he took his spade and stabbed it in half. Then he said, "It's a young one, its mother might be about, keep a lookout", and walked back to the tractor.
I can't begin to tell you how much panic, anxiety and fear I had going on after that. Genuine fear. I never did see its mother, thank god.

I was out walking a few kilometres out of Bendigo in Victoria, off the beaten track when a light brown snake went across the front of my shoes. I didn’t think too much of it but when I got back to the son in laws house I told him I had saw a snake earlier.
He asked me what colour it was. When I told him light brown he said “those f@ckers can kill ya mate”. I didn’t believe him until he showed me on the internet. I retrospectively sh1t my pants.

Looks like a grass snake. Harmless although can squirt a nasty smelly liquid when picked up. Nice

Cowick Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 10:19 pm

Definitely looks like a grass snake

You know, the more I'm looking into it tonight, the more I'm leaning toward it being a grass snake because of the vertical black in front of the eyes and the pattern on its body. Here's a different angle of it showing a bit more of its body pattern...

Is it Sammy ?

DCWat wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 10:19 pm

Hopefully it is as has been identified, particularly with advice such as this, Jakub.

“Gently prod it to move it” (using something as short as a coat hanger) . That sounds like a sure fire way to get a bite from an animal cornered against a wall.

If the said extension is long enough it's a good method just don't use a twig or go in with your fingers.

bfcjg wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 10:49 pm

images.jpeg.jpgIs it Sammy ?

I'll get my tarpaulin and check!

bfcjg wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 10:49 pm

images.jpeg.jpgIs it Sammy ?

It’s a 12 ft cock and balls man!!

Jamesy wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 15, 2023 9:43 pm

I don’t think it will cause you too much bother. On the other hand, if you were in Australia and it was a light brown snake you would need to be very wary.

Trod on an Eastern Brown once in Canberra Botanical Gardens, mentioned it to a warden and suddenly all hell broke loose, they were racing around everywhere. The wardens not the snakes

That same holiday I went into a portaloo for a quick break at Alice Springs Golf Club and saw a Redback Spider above the door. That flipping country

Looks like a grass snake to me - olivy green with black spots.

Come across one or two walking in Rossendale.

Looks like one of those lethal snakes from Australia.

Saw an Adder the other day on Chester golf course. It's the first I've ever seen up north. Treat all snakes with care and assume they are venomous.

CaptJohn wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 16, 2023 7:29 am

Saw an Adder the other day on Chester golf course. It's the first I've ever seen up north. Treat all snakes with care and assume they are venomous.

The only adder I’d be keen on handling is Rachel Riley

Red Fox Rocks Socks wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 16, 2023 7:57 am

The only adder I’d be keen on handling is Rachel Riley

With your one eyed trouser snake involved ?

ClaretinJapan wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 16, 2023 12:23 am

Looks like one of those lethal snakes from Australia.

Must be on holiday