grass snake

Q: What are the chances of seeing a grass snake in Białowieża National Park?

Very likely. About 80% of wildlife watchers report a grass snake sighting in Białowieża National Park on a given day, based on 142 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a grass snake in Białowieża National Park?

September. In that month about 90% of wildlife watchers report a grass snake in Białowieża National Park on a given day, against about 10% in January–February and November, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see a grass snake?

Between 7 and 10 pm. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most grass snake sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.

Q: Is Białowieża National Park the best place to see a grass snake?

Yes. Of the 11 parks where we can rate grass snake sightings, Białowieża National Park has the highest daily chance: about 80%. Next come Biebrza National Park (Poland, about 50%) and Hortobágy National Park (Hungary, about 50%). All parks ranked.

Q: Where does the grass snake sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the grass snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Białowieża National Park (142 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Natrix natrix

Silhouette: Danny S. · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassSquamata
FamilyColubridae (Colubrid Snakes)
GenusNatrix
SpeciesNatrix natrix (grass snake)

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

at Białowieża National Park

In 3 days >90%

142 Verified sightings at Białowieża National Park From 2019 to 2026

469 In all 11 parks

September Best month

🌙 Nocturnal When it's spotted

About the grass snake

The grass snake (Natrix natrix), sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake, is a Eurasian semi-aquatic non-venomous colubrid snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibians. Many subspecies are recognized, including:

Natrix natrix helvetica (Lacépède, 1789) was formerly considered as a subspecies, but following a genetic analysis it was recognised in August 2017 as a separate species, Natrix helvetica, the barred grass snake. Four other subspecies were transferred from N. natrix to N. helvetica, becoming N. helvetica cettii, N. helvetica corsa, N. helvetica lanzai and N. helvetica sicula.

The subspecies N. natrix astreptophora, found in the Iberian peninsula, the Pyrenees, and North-Western Africa, has been reclassified as its own species Natrix astreptophora or the Iberian grass snake. The grass snake is typically dark green or brown in colour with a characteristic yellow or white collar behind the head, earning it the alternative name of 'ringed snake'. Its colouration can range from grey to black; darker colours are more prevalent in colder regions, presumably due to the thermal benefits of dark pigmentation... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Recording0:05

Russia · 2025

Recording1:56

Russia · 2020

Recording0:31

Russia · 2025

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Known range (GARD, Roll et al. 2017 & Caetano et al. 2022)Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 16 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Białowieża National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~80%
2	Biebrza National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	~50%
3	Hortobágy National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~50%
4	Triglav National Park	🇸🇮 Slovenia	~50%
5	Gauja National Park	🇱🇻 Latvia	~50%
6	Plitvice Lakes National Park	🇭🇷 Croatia	~40%
7	Kiskunság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~40%
8	Bavarian Forest National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	~40%
9	Fertő-Hanság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~30%
10	Tatra National Park	🇸🇰 Slovakia	~20%
11	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	~10%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Sofia	🇧🇬 Bulgaria	~20%
2	Kyiv	🇺🇦 Ukraine	~20%
3	Copenhagen	🇩🇰 Denmark	~20%
4	Budapest	🇭🇺 Hungary	~20%
5	Vienna	🇦🇹 Austria	~20%
6	Bucharest	🇷🇴 Romania	~20%
7	Munich	🇩🇪 Germany	~20%
8	Moscow	🇷🇺 Russia	~20%
9	Kharkiv	🇺🇦 Ukraine	~10%
10	Prague	🇨🇿 Czechia	~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Prague Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
2	Skansen	🇸🇪 Sweden	In captivity
3	Skandinavisk Dyrepark	🇩🇰 Denmark	In captivity
4	Augsburg Zoo	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
5	Tiergarten Straubing	🇩🇪 Germany	In captivity
6	Zagreb Zoo	🇭🇷 Croatia	In captivity
7	Grodno Zoo	🇧🇾 Belarus	In captivity
8	AQUA Akvarium & Dyrepark	🇩🇰 Denmark	In captivity
9	Tirana Zoo	🇦🇱 Albania	In captivity
10	Alpenzoo Innsbruck	🇦🇹 Austria	In captivity
11	Universeum	🇸🇪 Sweden	In captivity
12	Kupittaan lintulammikko	🇫🇮 Finland	In captivity
13	Baltic Sea Science Center	🇸🇪 Sweden	In captivity
14	Rákosův pavilon	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
15	Reptiland	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
16	Velemlokárium	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity

Show all 16 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Białowieża National Park

No species of the same family or order lives in Białowieża National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.

Anguis colchica

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Zootoca vivipara

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Lacerta agilis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a grass snake in Białowieża National Park?

Very likely

About 80% of wildlife watchers report a grass snake sighting in Białowieża National Park on a given day, based on 142 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. Over three days the chance rises to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a grass snake in Białowieża National Park?

September

In that month about 90% of wildlife watchers report a grass snake in Białowieża National Park on a given day, against about 10% in January–February and November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a grass snake?

Between 7 and 10 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most grass snake sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is mostly seen at night.

Is Białowieża National Park the best place to see a grass snake?

Yes

Of the 11 parks where we can rate grass snake sightings, Białowieża National Park has the highest daily chance: about 80%. Next come Biebrza National Park (Poland, about 50%) and Hortobágy National Park (Hungary, about 50%). All parks ranked.

Where does the grass snake sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the grass snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Białowieża National Park (142 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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