The Lincolnshire Bird Club

On a regular walk around the Chambers Farm Wood complex yesterday I found 4 dead young grass snakes on the main ride leading from Minting Triangle to the smashed gate at the edge of the wood. Quite obviously the work of humans, possibly the same chavs that smashed the gate a few weeks ago so they can ride their motorbikes on an NNR. I've already emailed the FC.

Adi

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I was back there today and found even more in the same area, 8 along the ride. A couple of low res pics in May 2006 album.

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9 there today, I must have missed one. One theory for the massacre is that the probabtion service has been working in the area and somebody doesn't like snakes.

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Adrian,
I normally respond via the Private Message system but this is for the benefit of those who may have been misled by your "theory". You are aware that I am responsible for their work programme and I can confirm that the Probation Service (Community Punishment) have never worked in that part of the complex and do NOT have access to it. They have done a tremendous amount of excellent conservation based activities at Chambers Farm Wood for over 10 years and your "theory" is both incorrect and very unhelpful! On a positive note, enquiries are being made to try to find out who or what is responsible.

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Thanks Stuart. I must congratulate you and your "volunteers" for your excellent work over the last 10 years.

Theories are made to be disproven, shot down in flames. Here is another theory or two; weasels, foxes predating the young grass snakes. Or perhaps they have been run over by bicycles. The snakes do like to sun themselves on the rides whenever possible.

Good to know enquiries are being made, 9 corpses in a small area does seem unnatural but perhaps a herpetologist could enlighten us. Are there any in Lincs?

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Yesterday at Chambers Wood I saw one live and one dead Grass Snake. The dead one was in three pieces next to a mown track. Judging by the colour of the mown grass and the state of decomposition of the snake I would guess that the mowing and death were not disconnected.

John