Playing dead

I was interested to read that death-feigning behaviour is rare in young grass snakes (Q&A, December 2018), as I have seen this response numerous times. I rescued this young snake ( pictured) from my neighbour’s cat – he was playing dead, but gave himself away when I held him up to look him over and his eyes moved to follow me! Fortunately, he wasn’t badly hurt, so I kept him warm in my hand until he had perked up. I took a quick photo, then let him go in a safe place in my garden. I hope he made it! Louise Searl, via email PhD researcher Amy Schwartz replies: This adorable young grass snake is a perfect miniature of the adult, and this particular individual is in the middle of shedding its skin. I have also seen young wild grass snakes feign death, which can seem like rather cartoonish behaviour, complete with mouth open and tongue hanging out sideways.