Frank, I really don't like the term hibernation as applied in the classical sense when it comes to snakes. I do believe a prolonged period of very little activity occurs in many northern areas in the U.S. Anyhow, just a few observations on your comments.



< With all the variation they do, and all the variation in weather, they somehow do these things at the very same time. Like breeding(colubrids) From late march to late april(or so) To egg laying, from late april to late May(normally) To the emergence of offspring(hatching) from july to sept. How strange is that. Considering they are so different! >



I would not say their basic life functions are different. Where ever found snakes still breed, eat, drink, etc.. You must remember when talking about the continental U.S. there is indeed extremes to be found in one region to another when the calandar year is viewed in its entirety. However, Spring does still come to all points north, south, east and west! The fact that most N.A. colubrids breed in the spring should come as no surprise. Also I don't agree with your time frame and would like to point out there is a great deal of difference in local conditions throughout the spring months. Some example. Its not uncommon to find heavily gravid female floridana south of Lake Okeechobee in mid March. Remember. Mid March is late winter. You mention that egg laying takes place everywhere generally from late April to late May. Not true. I can say with some authority snakes in Ky (kings, corns, milks, etc) very rarely lay before the second week of June. Rat snakes usually are not laying until late June or into July. Now this is in Ky which is neither deep south nor far north. It does make me wonder when the snakes from the northern states and New England are laying.



< Again as I mentioned, If what they do in summer is the same. Wouldn't you think what they are doing is winter is the same too. It only makes sense. Doesn't it? >



No, not really. The reason I say this is summers in the north and summers in the south are completely different. I would expect summers in the north to be times of plenty when snakes are foraging under optimum conditions and replenishing their reserves. I have been to the deep south in summer and I would describe it as anything but lush and vibrant. More hot, dry and generally inhospitable. I would suspect many snakes are not having as many feeding opportunities as they would like. It would not surprise me to see greater activity early in the year in the winter months. I see no reason for this in the north. To summarize, yes, the snakes are still doing the same things regardless of where they live. To think they have to do it in the same way at the same time would make no sense when you consider not just the spring, but the extremes of conditions found throughout the year in the respective regions. Thanks, Phil

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