France in Focus

Last year there where almost 40 frogs in our small pond, now only 12. Where have they all gone? Probably inside this impressive couleuvre, about 150 cm long. He/she was baking in the sun, disturbed when I tried to get as close as possible for a snapshot. No pictures please!

Predation is a difficult thing to balance. Eating frogs that are "good" on the one hand versus eating rodents that are "bad" on the other.

Still, it shows you must have created a nice habitat for them

Nice snake Couleuvre verte et Jaune.Western Whip Snake

Don't worry, there were masses of frogs in our valley this year, as the flooding made ponds in the undulating riverside paddocks most of the time. It was a right old din, like they were having a good laugh at something all the time (but not Fringe jokes! )

I think it's snakes like that, that are inhabiting our roof space at times - not a problem I hope, unless they decide to lay eggs up there .... apparently 150-200 at a time? Gulp!

That must be a very common snake in France as that is what we see around here. So far, not one that large.

There is a snake skin by the wood pile. I think they like to make a home hidden in the wood. So, should I expect them to leave by Winter or should I keep my eyes peeled when reaching for a log ? Don't they hibernate in Winter ?

Wear gloves. Grass snakes are not venomous but can give a nasty bite.

ajm wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:20 am Wear gloves. Grass snakes are not venomous but can give a nasty bite.

Lovely.

I've found a volunteer to patrol the waters of our small pond. A surfer by the name of Sharkie, perhaps enough to frighten the snakes. Should make the habitat of the frogs more peaceful. But there must be quit a lot of them. When renovating our terrace several years ago I discovered many eggs and baby snakes, already behaving as grown ups. Size of the bricks: 11 x 11 cm.

It looks heavenly !
We found a load of snake's eggs in a heap of falun - we didn't know they were there so felt rather guilty disturbing them.

Sharkie is an odd looking snake. Do you know what variety he is ?

I had to look up what snake eggs look like as I wouldn't know one if I saw it.