Grass snake

Natrix natrix
Grass snake
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons
Grass snake
Photo: Darius Bauzys, CC BY, Wikimedia Commons
Grass snake
Photo: Andreas Eichler, CC BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons

About

The Grass snake is the most common snake in the Carpathian valleys and foothills. It prefers to stay near water: rivers, ponds, swamps, ditches, as well as in gardens, fields, and near farm buildings in villages. The Grass snake is completely non-venomous and safe for humans.

The best identifying feature is the two yellow, orange, or whitish spots on the nape, resembling 'ears'. The back is gray, olive, or black, often with small dark spots, and the pupil is round. Adult Grass snakes usually reach up to one meter in length, with large females being longer.

The Grass snake swims and dives excellently. Its main diet consists of frogs, newts, and fish. In spring, after hibernation, Grass snakes mate, and in summer, females lay eggs in piles of manure, compost, decaying leaves, or sawdust, where the heat from decomposition helps them develop. Young Grass snakes hatch at the end of summer.

When frightened, the Grass snake hisses, plays dead by rolling onto its back, or emits an unpleasant smell. It rarely bites, and such a bite is safe.

The Grass snake is not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, but like all snakes, it should not be killed: many Grass snakes are destroyed, mistakenly thought to be vipers.

Where in the Carpathians

fewermore368 records in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries
Ukraine · Romania · Slovakia · Austria · Czechia · Poland · Hungary · Serbia
Mountain ranges
Pokuttia-Bukovina Carpathians, Almăj and Locva Mountains, Bieszczady, Gorgany, Skole Beskids, Krasna Polonyna, Vihorlat-Gutin Volcanic Ridge, Đerdap and Miroč, Codru-Moma and Zarand, Kysuce Beskids
Altitude belts
Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sightings

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

Common European adderVipera berusPoisonous

The adder does not have yellow spots on its nape, has a vertical pupil, and a dark zigzag on its back.

Protection and rules

Not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ

How to distinguish a Grass snake from an adder?

The Grass snake has two yellow or orange spots on its nape and a round pupil; the adder has a zigzag on its back and a vertical pupil.

Is the Grass snake dangerous?

No, the Grass snake is non-venomous. When scared, it hisses or plays dead, and it bites very rarely and safely.

Recorded nearby

Mount TsetsynoPeakMount TsetsynoChernivtsialtitude 537 mTsetsyno is the highest hill of the Chernivtsi Upland, 537 m high (538 m according to other data).Maniava village - Monastyretska polonynaModerateOne-dayMarkedManiava village Monastyretska polonynaElevation profile497–950 m12.1 kmascent 406 m≈ 4 h walkingMount Kinashka – Lekechi villageEasyOne-dayMarkedMount Kinashka Lekechi villageElevation profile521–1 043 m9.5 kmascent 4 m≈ 2.5 h walkingManiava village – Maniava WaterfallEasyOne-dayMarkedManiava village Maniava WaterfallElevation profile519–711 m7 kmascent 213 m≈ 2 h walkingKuzmynets village – Mount VysokaModerateOne-dayMarkedKuzmynets village Mount VysokaElevation profile686–1 803 m11.1 kmascent 1 122 m≈ 5 h walkingHuta village – Mount PasichnaModerateOne-dayMarkedHuta village Mount PasichnaElevation profile635–1 477 m11.4 kmascent 841 m≈ 4.5 h walking

Trails and peaks near which naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, iNaturalist), matched by altitude and habitat. Sightings are not guaranteed.

Similar species

Common European adderVenomous snakeCommon European adderVipera berusHow to tell: The adder does not have yellow spots on its nape, has a vertical pupil, and a dark zigzag on its back.
Aesculapian snakeRed Data Book of UkraineAesculapian snakeZamenis longissimusThe longest snake of the Ukrainian Carpathians, non-venomous and rare. Listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine as a vulnerable species.
Slow wormSlow wormAnguis fragilisA legless lizard often mistaken for a snake. Non-venomous, slow, and beneficial: it eats slugs in forests and gardens.

Sources

GBIF · iNaturalist · Wikidata · Distribution data: GBIF.org (CC0 and CC BY records), iNaturalist; names and identifiers: Wikidata (CC0). Text: Karpaty.rocks, checked 09.11.2026.