Animal surprises: grass snakes and bats in Heidelberg!

Animal surprises: grass snakes and bats in Heidelberg!

On Friday, June 14, 2025, there were two animal encounters in Ziegelhausen that excited the local population. At around 5 p.m., a 75-year-old gentleman noticed a striking appearance in his garden pond: a snake about one meter long. The team from the Heidelberg-Nord district responded and identified the animal as a grass snake. This species of viper is completely harmless to humans and is a protected species BUND Baden-Württemberg explained.

Grass snakes are active during the day and prefer water bodies where they feed primarily on amphibians, fish and small rodents. Juveniles of this species primarily eat worms and tadpoles. Although these shy animals are not dangerous, they defend themselves using various strategies such as hissing and suggesting bites. When threatened, they often prefer to retreat into the thicket, which is what the grass snake did on Friday evening when it quickly disappeared from view.

An injured bat pup

Another unusual animal event occurred on the same day around 10:30 p.m.: A concerned citizen brought an injured baby bat to the Weinheim district. The small animal was a juvenile of the pipistrelle bat genus. Animal rescue volunteers took care of the bat and brought it to a breeding station. Caring for such injured wildlife is of great importance, especially at a time when many species are threatened.

With regard to species protection, we can also take a look at the legal regulations at this point. In Germany, regulations such as the Federal Nature Conservation Act fall under the obligation to report found animals, especially endangered species. Injuring or even catching reptiles such as grass snakes can be punished with fines of up to 50,000 euros in various federal states, such as North Rhine-Westphalia Catalog of fines shows.

Protective measures and awareness raising

The threat to many native reptile species from habitat loss has increased due to urbanization and intensive agriculture. The grass snake is one of the species that is on the Red List of Endangered Reptiles. Therefore, educating and sensitizing the population about the harmless nature of these animals is of the utmost importance. Using fewer harsh chemicals in the garden and participating in local conservation projects can provide valuable support for the conservation of these species.

The recent encounters in Ziegelhausen are a further impetus to raise our awareness of the protection of native animal species and to appreciate the beauty of our nature. Whether it's a snake or a bat, every encounter with wildlife enriches our community and reminds us of the importance of protecting our planet.