Lynleigh Greig/ Supplied
Are snakes like bears, and hibernate in caves all winter long? Let’s find out…
Just like us, snakes feel the cold.
But, unlike us, they’re rumoured to initiate a state of hibernation once winter rolls around. There are so many questions surrounding the livelihood of these ectothermic creatures, especially when it comes to how they behaviour when it’s cold.
Well, it’s time to set the record straight, and learn about snakes during the colder months.
We’ve enlisted the help of reptile and snake expert Lynleigh Greig, the co-founder of Sydney Wildlife Rescue Mobile Care Unit to explain how a snake changes and adapts to winter weather, and where it may be hiding in your home to keep safe and warm.
Do snakes hibernate in winter?
Snakes, in fact, do not hibernate in winter. Instead, they go into a state called brumation, which means they become less active and their metabolism slows down tremendously.
Brumation is actually a state of semi-hibernation or dormancy (which is guess means the rumours were also semi-right!).
What is brumation?
Brumation is the state that a snake goes into during the colder months of the year. In Australia, this period can last from mid-May all the way to late September.
Lynleigh explains that there are three main reasons why brumation occurs:
“Temperature regulation – to avoid extreme cold that could be harmful to them.
Energy conservation – during the colder months when food is scarce and temperatures are not optimal for digestion, they slow their metabolic rate right down.
Breeding – seasonal cycling is important for snakes as their reproductive system takes its cues from temperature changes. Temperature can also affect sperm production.”
Although the climate across Australia is vastly different, most snakes will still go into a phase of brumation, as the nights get colder and food is less available.
Snake eating habits in winter
Of course, similar to hibernation, eating is reduced by an enormous amount when in a state of brumation.
For snakes, this means venturing out of comfy hidey-holes to find food quickly before settling back down out of the cold weather. The amount of food eaten by a snake during this period depends entirely on their location.
If they’re in colder regions, like south-east Australia and down the coastlines, they tend not to eat anything at all during the cold months of June, July and August. This is because they cannot digest properly unless their body temperature is warm.
For the snakes up near Darwin and around the top of Australia, once a month is the regular food search.
Where do snakes like to hide?
Snakes prefer being out in nature more than anything, but during brumation they seek out shelter that is dry and secure.
Lynleigh tells us that the behaviour of different snakes indicates where they’re more likely to hide:
“Terrestrial snakes primarily live and hunt on the ground e.g. red-bellied black snakes, marsh snakes. They will usually choose a spot on the ground such as beneath a piece of corrugated iron or beneath a big fallen log. Sometimes even abandoned burrows/tunnels made by other animals.
Arboreal snakes primarily live and hunt in the trees e.g. pythons and tree snakes. They will usually choose a spot off the ground such as a roof-space or a tree cavity.
Fossorial snakes primarily live underground and they will stay hidden in soil or mulch piles over winter.
Crevice-dwelling snakes live in tight spaces between rocks. During brumation, they will go deep into the fissures where they stay dry and safe from predators.”
While snakes will not usually choose inside the house for their shelter, it can happen, so be wary of anything slithering.
You can take a look at all of the likely places a snake is likely to hide, such as warm areas behind the fridge or within gaps in walls and foundations. After that, covering up or fixing any holes or gaps that lead to outside is essential.
If you do come across a snake in your searching, do not approach the animal or attempt to catch it yourself.
Lynleigh actually recommends that if a python or tree snake has taken up residence in your roof space to simply leave them there for the winter. According to here “they will pay you back in spring when they consume any rats that try to enter.”
Lynleigh recommends that if you do happen to accidentally disturb a “sleeping beauty” over winter please call Sydney Wildlife Rescue for advice on 9413 4300, or a wildlife rescue organisation close to your local area.
What season are snakes most active?
Snakes are most active during summer and hot weather. Often called ‘snake season’ the end of spring and summer months are when snake sightings are at their highest.
This is because snakes are out breeding and actively searching for food sources within their environment. If you do spot a snake while out on a hike or in a bushland area, it is best to leave it be, and not disturb it.
After all, snakes are more afraid of you, than you are of them!
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