![]() ![]() Sealing Foundation Cracks to Prevent Snake Entry.When Do Snakes Come Out of Hibernation?. ![]() Lack of Food Consumption During Brumation."They're not going to bother you, they're not going to chase you, and if you go your way, they'll go their way. "I always have four simple words when dealing with snakes, and that's 'Just leave them alone,'" Kleopfer said. Snakes may also contribute to medical science, as snake venom is being researched in the treatments of cancer and other maladies. Kleopfer also noted the ecological benefit of snakes, such as helping control rodent populations, which in turn helps control the spread of Lyme disease. PHOTO CAPTURES MOMENT RARE FLORIDA PINE SNAKE DEVOURS COTTONTAIL RABBIT "Don't be thinking that you can go out and get these snake repellents, these chemical, granular things that you can put out there – none of that stuff works." "Don't be sold on what I call proverbial snake oil," he said. He also offered a word of advice regarding chemical snake repellents. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times / Getty Images)įor people concerned about finding snakes underneath their home, Kleopfer recommended hiring a reputable snake remover or having a professional seal any crevices in your home's foundation. SNAKES ON THE MOVE: MATING SEASON AND WARMER WEATHER MAKE SERPENTS FRISKY Dealing with slithering neighborsĪn animal control officer removes a 3- to 4-foot snake. Kleopfer noted exceptional examples, such as thousands of rattlesnakes found in the same den in Colorado and thousands of garter snakes found together in Manitoba, Canada. While some snakes undergo brumation alone, others may join other snakes when the temperatures drop. "It’s not uncommon to find snakes sometimes in people's cellars, especially older houses that have stone foundations," Kleopfer said. Sometimes, the reptiles may find their way into human habitats during winter. They may also find large cavities in the soil underneath tree stumps. Snakes may burrow underneath a pile of leaf litter or a rotting log or tree, or find a spot in a south-facing rocky crevice. This allows the snakes to survive, even as temperatures at the surface drop below freezing. According to Kleopfer, the locations are always underground and just below the frost line, a depth in the soil where they are safe from freezing. Snakes choose a variety of places for their winter slumber. ![]() ![]() (Education Images / Universal Images Group / Getty Images) Searching for a spot to sleepĬlose-up of the head of a garter snake on a pile of leaves. Some snake species brumate for the entire winter, while others, such as garter snakes and cottonmouths (also known as "water moccasins"), are more cold-tolerant and may awaken from their slumber to sun themselves on warmer winter days. Whereas hibernating bears may pack on extra pounds immediately before winter, brumating snakes do not. Kleopfer said this is due to the reptiles' inability to metabolize their food during brumation.ĪMERICA'S RAREST SNAKE FOUND CHOKED TO DEATH ON GIANT CENTIPEDE IN FLORIDA Brumation, however, involves an animal no longer eating leading up to winter. This may sound much like hibernation, in which an animal eats enough to last them through their winter sleep. It involves a low body temperature and the slowing down of their heart and respiratory rates, according to state herpetologist with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources J.D. (VWPics / Universal Images Group / Getty Images)īrumation refers to the "deep sleep" that snakes and other reptiles often undergo during the winter. ![]()
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