Geezer From The Freezer wrote:

Martin wrote:

Geezer From The Freezer wrote:

Get the snake out and take it to the nearest river.

really bad advice, this could well be illegal. The RSPCA will come out
and take care of it for you.


Why would it be illegal? Would it be illegal taking frogs that have found
their way to a pond back to where they originated?

You may be right. I honestly don't know if its illegal or not?

The snake was not identified (could have been a grass snake with a bit
of imagination) the release of non-native wild animals into the wild is
illegal (Wildlife & Countryside Act). Same goes for some frogs which are
imports, some shrimps, assorted escaped exotics, some exotic fish.

Infact it's strongly recomended never to release any wild animal back
into the countryside because of the possible transmission of disease.

"The Act also makes it an offence to deliberately release any non-native
species into the wild. This includes releasing any of the non-native
species already established in the wild in the UK.

A number of species are listed in a schedule to the act as being
established in the wild. Release of these species is an offence in the
same way as release of any other alien species. These taxa a....."

http://www.threadnaught.net/~caleb/uklaw.html

including your frogs/toads

Midwife toad Alytes obstetricans
European tree frog Hyla arborea
Marsh frog Rana ridibunda
Edible frog Rana esculenta
African clawed toadXenopus laevis
Yellow-bellied toad Bombina variegata