Information
Rarity: Very common
Size
Growing almost up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length, it is among the largest European snakes, similar sized to the four-lined snake
Venom
They are non-venomous but will almost always bite if felt threatened. I have been bitten over fifty times and I can say that it doesn't hurt.
Habitat
The Aesculapian Snake prefers forested, warm but not hot, hilly or rocky habitats with proper isolation and varied, not sparse vegetation. They can also be commonly found in old abandoned buildings where there are lots of rats. I mainly see them under straw bales.
Diet
Their main food source are rodents up to the size of rats and other small mammals such as shrews and moles. They suffocate their prey by constriction, though smaller mouthfuls may be eaten alive without constriction. Juveniles mainly eat lizards and arthropods.
Breeding
Breeding occurs annually after hibernation in spring, typically from mid-May to mid-June. In this time the snakes actively seek each other and mating begins. Females usually lay around 5-11 eggs per clutch, in a moist, warm spot where organic decomposition occurs, usually under hay piles.