Suggestions please as to how we move them on. Thanks.
Nimble person, gloves and large net and big bucket with lid to transport them far away? Maybe one for Allovoisins? Or @Rob_le_Pest ?
That’s unusual as I don’t believe adders are comfortable in water unlike grass snakes that like water and are good swimmers.
If it were me, I’d use a net (plus heavy gloves - baby adders are just as poisonous) and put them in a lidded bucket with grass at the bottom - not water – adders do swim but it isn’t their favourite habitat - and release them in long grass near log piles or rock piles, at some distance.
They do return to best breeding/hibernation spots.
The mairie can advise?
Poor little creatures. If it wasn’t cruel to them I’d suggest sending them to (insert suitable candidates’ names) in a basket of figs. Catch in pool net, transfer to deep bucket au fur et à mesure and put in a safe place not too close?
I think they are adders - very slim. black, small, arrow-shaped head.
Any sign of a yellow/white collar?
At the moment too deep in the water to see much detail other than overall shape.
Scary SuePJ. I’d be paying RobLePest’s travel costs as well aa his fees.
Not really. I don’t mind snakes. We have western whip snakes in the garden who, in fact, eat adders apparently.
I have a wonderful large primitive bark painting of a Brazilian snake bought in Manaus on the wall of my study. Round eyes, so probably not poisonous.
I’m just looking for suggestions as to how to manage them.
I’m also thinking maybe first thing tomorrow morning while the water is at its coldest, so I’m guessing they will be fairly sluggish. Thoughts anyone?
Thanks Corona, but yours is not a baby I think. They can be darker when young.
(Not my hand by the way!!!)
On closer inspection, no.
I swim with mine, but they are not adders, clearly couleuvres which are not venomous, and, disappointingly, are terrified of me. And I only want to be friends. ![]()
One needs to peer into the snake’s eyes and see where the pupil goes…
Seriously, they sound more like some sort of grass snake… rather than adders..
Good point Stella, grass snakes have round pupils, adders vertical slits.
On closer inspection, no.
Then could be adders.
We’re pretty used to snakes round here and I know what grass snakes and whip snakes look like. These are much thinner. I’m pretty certain they are adders. I’m just surprised (a) they are in the pool on the bottom and (b) not still hibernating.
It is super weird they are at the bottom of the pool in deep water - I thought you meant in the empty pool, I’ve often had baby and juvenile snakes stuck in mine, and got them out with the long handled net.
At least I am spared that, because mine is a pond not a pool, they are able to scramble in and out at will. ![]()

