Madam,

In reply to Mr Poole’s letter from last week (‘Ringneck snake found by back door’).

This snake was almost certainly a juvenile grass snake of which melanistic (black) forms are occasionally seen.

The Llandanwg area with its marshy fields and ditches is ideal habitat for this species.

The ring-shaped marking on grass snakes varies from a slight mark to almost completely surrounding the neck.

It’s possible there may be one or two specialist keepers in the UK who have American Ringneck snakes, a species which by all accounts are difficult to keep alive in captivity for any length of time due to its rather specialist needs.

John Hicks, Talybont