Ep. 283 : Hibernacula and Brown Snakes

The other day, while out with my students, we came across four basking snakes on the side of a gravel access road cutting through an Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) forest. Two Eastern Garters (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis), a single Red-bellied (Storeria occipitomaculata), and a Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi). Three of the four stuck around and we watched, told a story, and asked questions about the snakes. Some of the questions I could help the students find the answers, but some I was at a loss.

Do multiple species of snakes share a hibernaculum? What is a hibernaculum really? Do all snakes use them? What characteristics are the snakes looking for in a hibernaculum? These and a couple other questions really sat with me for the day. When it came time for the radio show, while I had a lot of interesting sightings this first warm week of Spring, the hibernacula question still held my heart. So I obviously had to look it up and learn more.

To learn more :
The Snakes of Ontario : Natural History, Distribution, and Status by Jeffrey C. Rowell. Self published, 2012.
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Great Lakes Region by James H. Harding & David A. Mifsud. University of Michigan Press, 2017.