How Do Snakes Survive the Winter? A Detailed Explanation of Snake Overwintering Methods
Hibernation is an adaptation of snakes to low-temperature conditions, and also a genetic trait that snakes have developed over the long course of evolution. A snake's hibernation is not a period of sleep, but a dormant state directly caused by low temperatures. So how do snakes survive the winter? Let's take a look together~
1. During hibernation, snakes like to live in groups. Often a single hibernation den contains as few as three to five snakes, or as many as dozens or even over a hundred. As the cold winter approaches, snakes have an instinct to gather together. Sometimes several species of snakes will cohabit in one den, and the reason for this is not a lack of suitable hibernation sites.
2. During a snake's hibernation period, in addition to paying attention to warmth, you must also pay attention to humidity, because humidity in the hibernation site is also very important. It is generally kept at 40%-45%, but it must not be too low, otherwise the air will be too dry and affect the snake's normal breathing during hibernation. At the same time, it must not be too humid, because high humidity will lower the temperature inside the den. A basin of water can be placed in the den or box; on one hand it can regulate humidity, and on the other hand it can provide drinking water for the snake.
3. When a snake hibernates, the temperature inside the snake den should preferably be kept at 5-10°C. When the temperature is above 10°C, the snake is restless during hibernation and its metabolism speeds up, increasing the consumption of nutrients in the snake's body, which is unfavorable for hibernation; when the temperature is below 5°C, the snake is often frozen to death.
Snakes undergo a series of corresponding physiological changes during hibernation, but sometimes due to reasons such as insufficient food intake before hibernation, insufficient accumulation of nutrients, the snake's own poor health, or an unsuitable hibernation site, snakes often die during or after hibernation. Under natural conditions, the mortality rate of snakes during hibernation reaches 1/3-1/2. According to measurements, the fat coefficient of the Shedao pit viper (Gloydius shedaoensis) must reach 7%, and that of the Ussuri pit viper (Gloydius ussuriensis) must reach 10%, for them to safely hibernate and overwinter.