Wildlife Lesson Number 1,574: If you’re looking for a reliable animal, try a snake.
Trying to tell stories about wildlife can be frustrating at times – especially when the little critters in question don’t bother to turn up when required. Inviting journalists to our reserves to see some of the creature we’re trying to protect is always a gamble – and it can be embarrassing when they go away empty handed.
Such worries were preying on my mind when I met up with the reporter and cameraman from BBC Breakfast this week to film the capture of some smooth snakes – Britain’s rarest reptile.
We arrived at a patch of heathland near Bournemouth yesterday to search for some of the elusive animals, which were destined to be released 100 miles away at a secret location in Devon. The non-venomous, and very timid, smooth snake was last seen in Devon 50 years ago and the relocation project is a joint effort between ourselves and the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust.
With the camera rolling we began lifting the corrugated iron strips which had been laid down for the snakes to shelter under. Amazingly within minutes we had our first slithery specimen and a couple more followed soon afterwards. In fact in less than an hour tramping about the heath I managed to tick off two thirds of the UK’s native reptile species (smooth snake, grass snake, slowworm and common lizard – I still need an adder and a sand lizard to complete my list).
If you caught the slot on BBC One this morning then you will have seen a short film of us gathering up the snakes accompanied by Bow Wow Wow’s 80s New Wave classic Where’s My Snake, followed, live on air, by their release into their new heathland home.
The story was a great way to get across the plight of our lowland heathland – a habitat more endangered than the rainforest – and also remind people that the RSPB ain’t just about birds.
So next time I’m wandering despondently across a boggy marsh with an expectant camera crew in tow praying for the arrival of some wildlife – any wildlife – for them to film, I’ll cast my mind back with a wistful sigh to the wonderful little smooth snake who always turns up when you need him.
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