For the first time, the results of an intensive, large scale study of a grass snake population in Dorset, southern England - carried out between 1958 and 1962 by the naturalist Dr. Robert Stebbings - has been published!
Although publication of the study results was always intended, for a number of reasons it had not been possible - until now! A collaboration between Dr. Stebbings, Professor Richard Griffiths and Dr. Simon Townson has enabled the study to be finally published as an Open Access special BHS Report
BHS Reports No. 6 - Special Report | British Herpetological Society
About 500 grass snakes were individually marked, and data were obtained on seasonal and daily activity, breeding behaviour, egg laying and hatching, feeding, and population characteristics. The population is likely to have comprised about 1,000 snakes that displayed wide-ranging movements over a large area. Indeed, three snakes were observed to move at least 4 km. Large numbers of eggs and hatchlings were collected from a longstanding sawdust heap that appeared to provide the main oviposition site. The data collected correspond with more recent studies, and there is no evidence that grass snakes have markedly shifted their seasonal patterns of behaviour in the 60 years since this research was carried out.