Snakes do hibernate during the winter in order to conserve the
energy of their bodies. Snakes are known to be cold-blooded
reptiles and the temperature of their body will depend on the
external factors. During hibernation, snakes may also be said to
be in brumation, dormancy and wintering. Hibernation is the act
of the reduction of body temperature, breathing, heart rate and
metabolism for a long term. Hibernation starts in the late
autumn and it will end in the early spring. When there is no
good place to winter, then the females and male snakes may den
together. However, where there are temperate climates, the
snakes may not hibernate.
There are two things that make the snake decide to hibernate or
not: their species and their location. The snakes that live in
the tropical climates will never hibernate. The snake will start
to hibernate when the temperature drops off. The activity of the
snake will be high during the late summer or early autumn before
the snake goes into hibernation and it can be in September or in
December. The snakes will come out when the temperature outside
has reached 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the place is warmer, then the snake will not go into
hibernation, but they will go into brumation. The hibernation is
a deep sleep that takes place in snow covered and colder
climates. The snake will not sleep during the brumation;
however, the temperature of their body will get lower and their
metabolism will then slow down. They will be less active and
they will not be too eager to eat. The hibernation and brumation
are important for the breeding of the snake. When the snake is
not able to cool down during some time in a year, they may fail
to produce fertile sperm.
When outside is warmer, the bromating snakes may decide to go
out in order to bask in the sunshine. This is why on sunny
winter days it is not rare to find the snakes around.
Deep crevices and caves on rocky hillsides are the most common
hibernacula for some kinds of snakes. The species may come
together to hibernate and the common places they choose are
rodent burrows. Other places can be the inside of a rooting log
or a hole found under a tree. Under houses and barns may also be
the best spots for the snake. Some snakes may die during the
hibernation, especially skinny snakes. The snake should feed
heavily before the hibernation and they should digest the food
before the cooling period starts. When the food is still in the
intestines or stomach when it starts to cool, it rots and kills
the snake. The snake will start to go out again when the days
become warmer but not too hot.
For more information about whether snakes hibernate or not, go
to my Snake
Removal - How to Get Rid of Snakes home page.