West Virginia (WOAY) As the weather warms up, snakes may be waking up underneath that stone wall or rocky edge in your yard.
Garter snakes are the only snakes in North America that hibernate communally in large numbers.
While most species den in small groups, garter snake hibernation sites can hold hundreds, even thousands, packed together below the frost line.
Right now, they’re emerging in stages.
The deepest snakes are still in brumation, with heart rates just a few beats per minute.
Closer to the surface, warmer temperatures in the 40s are triggering short trips outside to bask in the sun.
Once our forecasts see several days in a row near 50 degrees, dozens can emerge at once.
Males come out first, waiting for females, and brief mating balls can form before the snakes relocate elsewhere.
If you spot one to three garter snakes on your foundation or driveway, they may look sluggish, but they’re harmless to people and actually help control slugs and other garden pests.
Wildlife experts say the best approach is simple: leave them alone.
They’ve survived months underground without food and just need warmth to get moving again.
