A few days ago we saw another slow worm on the path. I think it was the biggest one I have ever seen.
The slow worm with my husband’s foot to show it’s length
I think this is the biggest one that I have ever seen
I placed a ruler next to it to try to show it’s length
It’s just over a foot long
They grow up to fifty centimetres (one foot eight inches) and this one was thirty seven centimetres (one foot three inches) so it wasn’t far off the longest.
They are actually legless lizards. They have closeable eyelids. They can drop their tails to escape predators and they eat slugs, worms, snails and the odd insect or spider.
They don’t bite and are harmless. They hibernate from October to March.
We feel lucky to have them breeding in our garden. We have seen babies, medium sized ones and now this large one. It was very accommodating to wait for me to get a ruler and take photos. We do like to see them in the garden.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
How nice we have not had one in our garden for a few years,but this year we have a baby toad, as well as our big toad that has been around for years,I find this strange, because we have not had a pond now for many years.Idont think I have ever seen a slow worm as long as your one.
We have seen a toad in our garden every year but have never had a pond. We haven’t seen it yet this summer though but it’s been hot and dry. We usually see them at the end of the year after some rain. Lovely to see a baby toad.
We have seen slow worms most years too but not one as big as this one. It must be a mature one.
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