First let me say that your doing great. But, this type of statement, its natural for snakes, tends to induce me to comment.

I do not mean to be argumentative, but your reasoning is more of a rationalization.

First, you can cool, hibernate, brumate, or estivate snakes if you want. Or not, its all good. But its surely not natural.

As I walk nature and attempt to understand snakes, to say captive hibernation is natural, is simply something we make up.

In nature, snakes seek conditions that support them. Most move to conditions that extend their active season for as long as possible.

Most species divide the year into to distinct areas, reproductive and feeding(not necessarily foraging) These two areas are aprox. 6 months each. And are also age dependent.

In the U.S. The summer, give or take when, is foraging, the winter is reproductive. Snakes gather, pair up, trio up, or bunch up, in the fall. They seek thermo mass in order to stay active all winter. They move around, socialize etc. until early spring. When the temps start to increase on the surface, they finish that years cycle by copulating, nesting(not restricted to one clutch) then restoring fat by feeding.(feeding season) If fat stocks are replaced, they repeat this the next fall.

Individuals that are young, growing, or non reproductive adults, normally have no need to gather, and simply do down until the temps return that support feeding and growth.

In my area, heat and drought causes snakes to estivate after the nesting season and before the rains. So most individuals stay down until the rain cools the surface. heat and dry are the two factors here. Back east, its not hot, but can be dry.

If temps and humidity permit, many snakes choose to stay active year around. Of course, not to the degree of the summer months. ALso, here at altitude, snakes are often out and active year around, even thought night time temps are well below freezing.

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