Huge snake spotted in canal sparks panic as local says ‘I’d have s*** myself’

A large snake has been spotted swimming in a canal at a Welsh town , leaving some people shocked at the sighting of the reptile. The terrifying creature, now as a identified grass snake, was spotted in Llangollen Canal near the town’s wharf.

When the photo of the UK's largest native reptile was shared on social media, locals couldn't hide their shock with one person saying “Bloody hell, I would have s*** myself if I saw one of those” as another said "I would have died!!”.

But they needn't have been shocked, this is not the first time this type of snake has been found in The Shropshire Union Canal through Llangollen. Three years ago, another grass snake – also known as a water snake – was filmed in a nearby aqueduct.

READ MORE: Bloke lifts wheelie bin lid and spots snake which had ‘recently eaten a rat’

Fortunately, while grass snakes can reach over three feet in length, they are non-venomous. While the snakes are generally harmless, they do excrete a foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands as part of a defensive technique, and it can can take a long time to wash off, reports WalesOnline.

It's not unusual to see this type of snake near lakes and canals, with many of them preferring to live on riverbanks and in ponds and ditches.

Being close to water allows them easy access to their favourite prey – frogs, toads and small fish.

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The Canal and River Trust, which wants canal users to learn to love the UK’s largest native snake, has described the way these snakes are able to camouflage themselves as an "impressive performance."

They added: "It can involve the snake writhing onto its back and lolling its tongue out of its mouth.

“Sadly many people who are lucky enough to glimpse a grass snake are afraid of it, perhaps confusing this harmless reptile with the venomous adder.”

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