People were amazed to spot the grass snake in Llangollen Canal, though one said: “I’d have been scared to death!”Snake in Llangollen canal. Credit Carol Arnold
A large snake has been spotted swimming along a Welsh canal and someone managed to capture it on camera. Carol Arnold came across the reptile in Llangollen Canal, responding swiftly she managed to capture a photograph and brief video of the animal.
She posted it on the For the Love of Wales Facebook group – generating considerable interest. It was quickly identified as a grass snake – the UK’s largest reptile.
The majority of those responding were envious of the sighting and full of admiration for the photograph, reports North Wales Live.
One person who had travelled the same route lately commented: “Gutted. All we got was a swimming rat and a floating dead sheep. Would have loved a snake!”
Another remarked: “Very nice female grass snake, nice photo” while a third noted “What a wonderful sight to see, fabulous picture”.
The snake was spotted swimming in Llangollen canal(Image: Carol Arnold )
Grass snakes are timid and non-venomous. Its presence in the water was hardly surprising either, as they are equally comfortable on land and in aquatic environments. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here
They are occasionally called “water snakes”, favouring habitats along riverbanks and in ponds and ditches.
Given their difficulty to detect in grassland, your optimal opportunity of spotting one is while it’s swimming.
There was some apprehension regarding how it would exit the canal given its steep sides. One observer commented: “He’s trying to get out. Probably fallen in accidentally. Needs a branch or something he can climb up.”
Another remarked: “Grass snake, hopefully he could of found a branch to climb out. Otherwise he would drown.”
There were also those who expressed greater concern about encountering one of these reptiles despite them being non-venomous and presenting no danger to humans.
One person wrote: “I’d have been scared to death if I’d have seen it, I thought grass snakes were only little.
“Not for me thanks.”
Another commented: “Wouldn’t want to see one of these on my paddleboard.”
The maximum length of a grass snake is six feet, although few achieve this size. There have been earlier sightings in the canal – including on the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.