Where do copperheads, other Illinois snakes go when it gets cold? What an expert said
Winter has officially begun, and with the new season comes colder temperatures on average and a decrease in activity for some wildlife. But what about snakes?
You’re unlikely to see a snake sunbathing this time of year, but even one day of warmer temperatures can cause the critters to leave their winter hideouts.
The majority of snake species common to the metro-east and St. Louis region are nonvenomous, including the black rat snake, the ring-necked snake and the Eastern garter snake, Dan Zarlenga, St. Louis region spokesperson with the Missouri Department of Conservation, said in a recent interview with the News-Democrat.
The Eastern copperhead is the most common venomous snake species in the area, but it’s not aggressive. Experts recommend people avoid harassing snakes or trying to pick them up — they’re unlikely to attack unless they feel threatened, so it’s best to just leave them alone and try not to block any of their escape routes if you find one outside.
The venomous timber rattlesnake can also be found in southern Illinois, but its populations in the state are considered “threatened” due to habitat loss and indiscriminate killing, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports. Like the Eastern copperhead, the species is not typically aggressive.
Where do Illinois snakes go in the winter?
While many animals hibernate in the winter, snakes have another way to survive the cold, called brumation.
Brumation is a type of dormancy, according to IDNR, and its primary distinction from hibernation is a brumating snake will come out in the winter if the soil temperature reaches around 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, while a hibernating animal would stay inactive all season.
Snakes’ metabolisms slow way down in cold weather, Zarlenga said, and they’re at the mercy of the temperatures around them as far as activity goes. A snake may venture out for some water around 50 to 55 degrees, but peak snake activity requires warmer temperatures, around 60 to 70 degrees.
When a snake is brumating, it will often burrow underground or hide in rocks or crevices to keep safe from not only the cold, but also predators.
“Most snakes are pretty solitary,” Zarlenga said.
Snakes will frequently return to the same burrowing spots once they’ve found a good place to hide out.
One relatively common way someone might be bitten by a snake is by reaching into a woodpile outside their home without realizing a snake is hiding, Zarlenga said. They can also sometimes be found in brush or leaf piles and even a home’s foundation. To mitigate this risk, Zarlenga recommends people wear sturdy leather gloves and long-sleeved shirts.
In warmer weather, snakes are less likely to hide and more likely to be found sunbathing on rocks to gather heat and energy.
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