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  you are in: ADVICE > FAQs > SNAKES > WHO'S EGGS? 



Advice and Resources

Frequently Asked Questions about...

Snakes

I have found eggs in my compost heap - what has laid them?

Quick answer
The only snake in the UK that lays eggs is the grass snake.

Further information
Grass snakes seek out piles of rotting vegetation in which to lay their eggs in early summer; here the eggs are protected from predators and keep a good, constant temperature. Garden compost heaps are a excellent egg-laying site for grass snakes.

Adders and slow-worms both incubate their eggs internally and 'give birth' to live young.

Grass snake eggs are small (2-3cm), white and leathery in texture. If you find eggs, report the sighting to your local Biological Records Centre and your local Amphibian and Reptile Group (ARG); your sightings can help local understanding of where grass snakes occur.

Eggs should have hatched by October so avoid turning your compost until this point. Grass snakes and their eggs are protected by law from killing and injury.

More on...
O Native snakes.
O Make your garden reptile-friendly.