Grass Snake Mystery

[Chipchopper]

I use a little used trail through the woods to walk my dog each morning.
This morning was different though, as I spotted a fairly large grass snake in an open area, on the track (not sunlit), it was motionless and did not make any attempt to slither away, as I would expect.
I decided to move the snake to save it from being trampled on by anyone else.
I found a stick and slid it under its body, about 4" from its head and picked it up, it was then that I could see it was alive. Placing it under the protection of some brambles, it slowly slithered away.

This left me wondering, if there was something wrong with the snake, as it didn't make a fast exit, as I approached and didn't appear injured or basking to warm up.
Maybe in had been stepped on by someone earlier, what do you think ?

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe it was having a nap.

[EDDIE51]

Snakes are cold blooded, they can not move fully until they have warmed up by being in the warmth of the Sun for a while. Was this early in the morning when the air was still cool?. You putting it under brambles has probably done more harm than good. It was in the open so that it could get the full heat of the Sun to warm up, it will not get that under bushes in the shade.

[roopower]

It probably hasn't had time to warm up properly. Snakes, lizards etc need to catch the rays in order to get moving.

[Chipchopper]

As I said, the area was not sunlit and anyway its been dull and cloudy all day, so I doubt it was getting solar energy.
Its my guess that it had recently emerged from hibernation and was still a little sluggish. Nice to see though, my first sighting this year.
I'm glad that I moved it to the side of the track though, as it gets pretty busy with mountain bikes at the weekend.
Thanks for your ideas.