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RAUK - Archived Forum - Grass Sakes mating in September

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Grass Sakes mating in September:

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Paul Ford
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Sep 2006
No. of posts: 124


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Posted: 18 Sep 2006

Had the day off work today ûwent to the mendips herping and had the best day for years!

 

I saw 7 grass snakes, 5 adders, several lizards and a few slow worms.

 

Two grassies were basking together and I was just thinking how lucky I was to see this when the smaller snake started to slowly move off and then for some reason ôreversedö back. I thought this was a little odd and on closer examination I could bee that they were actually mating!! û in September!!!?

 

I did try to get a photo but the faffing around made them disappear.

 

Is this fairly common?

 


armata
Forum Specialist
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
No. of posts: 928


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Posted: 18 Sep 2006
Funnily enough I also saw grass snakes mating in the Mendips but in October. This was on my adder study site at Stockhill. This must have been in 2001 I think. Good grass snake site also at Charterhouse not too far away.
'I get my kicks on Route 62'
Alan Hyde
Senior Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2003
No. of posts: 1416


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Posted: 18 Sep 2006
Will the females retain the sperm untill the following Spring?
O-> O+>
will
Senior Member
Joined: 27 Feb 2007
No. of posts: 330


View other posts by will
Posted: 22 Sep 2007
On a visit to some friends who live close to the Warburg Reserve, Oxon, I saw a pair of mating grass snakes today - fully engaged, as it were - very reluctant to move off but clearly interlocked when they did.   In fact I felt a bit guilty I'd put them off their pre-hibernation fun..

Anyway, it's the first time I've seen an autumn mating in grass snakes; I wonder if it's becoming more common in the warmer autumns, and, as Alan asked a year ago, if the sperm can be stored over winter ?

- Grass Sakes mating in September

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