They
hibernate
from late October through March or early April, but can be found basking on rocks during mild winter days. Common garter snakes hibernate in natural cavities or burrows, such as rodent burrows, crayfish burrows, under rock piles, or in stumps.
At what temperature do garter snakes hibernate?
The rocks warm quickly in the sun and retain heat well after dusk, providing a relatively temperate environment, even in winter. In these dens, snakes enter a state of hibernation, meaning their metabolic rate decreases drastically, and their body temperature can drop to
between 35 and 45 degrees
.
How do garter snakes survive the winter?
Cold-climate garter snakes
hibernate during the winter
. They hibernate in dens in large groups, with hundreds of garter snakes sometimes found together (and sometimes other snake species, according to Beane). … Garter snakes will travel long distances to a communal den for hibernation, according to the ADW.
Do garter snakes die in the winter?
Garter snakes hibernate through the winter
, usually from late October through March or early April, although you might see them out basking in the sun on a warmer winter day. … To survive the winter, garter snakes will find a safe and snug place underground. They may look for a natural cavity or use a rodent burrow.
Do garter snakes need to hibernate?
In winter,
garter snakes are supposed to be hibernating
. This presents some challenges when one turns up in your basement, or when you're keeping them as pets over the winter. Winter is not a time of year that people normally think about reptiles. … Garter snakes do not go on hiatus during the winter.
What time of day do garter snakes come out?
Common garter snakes are active
mainly during the day
and are active through a wider range of temperatures than most snakes. They hibernate from late October through March or early April, but can be found basking on rocks during mild winter days.
Are garter snakes good to have in your yard?
Garter snakes are a gardener's friend!
Harmless to humans
, they eat all the pests that wreak havoc in your garden. Learn more about the shy but helpful gardening helper who just wants to live peacefully in harmony with you—and eat your slugs! … I kind of wish we did have some; they're known to eat tick-infested mice!
What time of year do garter snakes have babies?
In
late July or August
, 3 – 18 young are live-born. Common garter snakes have been known to bear up to 85 young in one birthing!
Where do you release a garter snake?
- Trim your bushes – without overgrown bushes, they'll have nowhere to hide.
- Mow your lawn for the same reason.
- Keep your lawn clear of debris to give them fewer spots to hide in as well.
- Remove food sources.
- Trap and relocate snakes to wooded areas.
Are garter snakes out at night?
Garter snakes are incredibly active.
They come out both night and day
. They are typically ground-dwellers, but they may also climb shrubs, vines, or trees to escape predators. Some species of Garter snakes are even proficient swimmers.
Can garter snakes climb walls?
But can garter snakes climb walls to enter homes?
Yes, they can
. … Garter snakes are agile reptiles who can move the weight of their bodies across elevated platforms. While the species is mainly terrestrial, if they smell rats scurrying around your basement or other pests, they will find a way to reach their prey.
What time of year are snakes out?
Snake activity picks up as the temperatures start to fall in
late summer and early fall
. Snakes cannot thrive when temperatures drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. With the weather still ideal and an abundance of rain from late summer storms and hurricanes, fall is prime time for snakes to be active.
Where do snakes go at night?
The snake can be out in the night in
protected, cool and damp areas
. You may meet with the snakes near garage, retaining walls, wooded areas and near rocky streams. The wood piles and the debris have to be kept at a far place and the snake may be under the crawl spaces and the porches.
How long do garter snakes live for?
How long does a common garter snake live? The life span of an average common garter snake can range from
four to five years
. However, they can live up to 10 years in captivity.
What's a good snake deterrent?
Clove & Cinnamon Oil
: Clove and cinnamon oil are effective snake repellents. … Ammonia: Snakes dislike the odor of ammonia so one option is to spray it around any affected areas. Another option is to soak a rug in ammonia and place it in an unsealed bag near any areas inhabited by snakes to deter them away.
How cold is too cold for garter snakes?
Their temperature
cannot get below freezing
without hurting or killing them, so you probably don't want to go below 4-5°C (40°F) under any circumstances. But anything in the fifties Fahrenheit (10-15°C), or even the high forties, is probably ideal. How you get those cold-enough temperatures is the trick.
