Main content

Smooth and spotty

Bill Oddie and Rhys go looking for snakes under corrugated iron sheets on a heath. After 30 unsuccessful tries they finally find a smooth snake. Smooth snakes will bite and can draw blood, but they have no venom. They are not big snakes and this is an adult. The smooth snake gets its name from the fact that its scales have no ridges on them, unlike adder and grass snake scales. It has pairs of spots down its back rather than a zigzag like an adder. It has a dark patch on the head which is slightly notched - some people mistake this for the V of a viper. In winter they hibernate down a vole hole or mouse burrow. They hunt mainly by smell and will eat other reptiles such as lizards and slow worms.

Release date:

Duration:

2 minutes

Featured in...

More clips from Dorset