Also we mustn't forget we're dealing with different species sometimes too. The northern range for getula dies in s. Ohio and the black ratsnake in s. Michigan. Why don't they come up into my area. Something is restricting the range of those species and it has to do with how they live and have adapted. What about the Eastern fox snake. They are restricted to the areas around the southern Great Lakes, why? Is it because they are habitat specialists? Night snakes and lyre snakes and some kingsnakes, etc, are often active at night because they have adapted to the harsh conditions of summer in the Southwest. As such their ranges are restricted to some degree. But as FR is saying, and let's not lose sight of the point, all snakes are doing the same thing over winter, and that's beside the point of all this variation. They are congragating and getting ready for the next season. Some have a very long time to rest and congregate and some have a very short time, and inbetween.



When we look at variability, there's really some outstanding examples of these differences. The only kingsnake in my area is the Eastern milksnake, which does very well on my property. But they have some restrictions because of our harsh climate in winter. I usually don't see the first surface activity until late May. I believe the eggs are dropped sometime in late June and hatchlings can be seen in early August to mid-September. Hatchlings are rarely seen, however, until the following spring, as I think they remain below ground for the most part. If we have a really bad winter we might not see any hatchlings, or any adults either the following year. Sometimes the population gets decimated. But the pop survives and they rebound, because there's plenty of food and great habitat here.



Another example is the Coastal mtn. kingsnake in California. I had a pair of these for a few years that I raised from hatchlings. The really interesting thing about these guys is that I had a hard time getting them to eat in the summer when temps in my herp room easily were hitting 80* most days, then all of a sudden they took off when temps dropped to the low 70's and it got a lot drier in here. They were very active all winter. Could it be that this species does better in winter than they do in summer in CA? But still, they breed nearly according to the same schedule as most of our other colubrids.



That brings me back to the question..why do our snakes have this yearly schedule that almost all stick to, and Frank's question, what are they doing during the winter?



Thanks again...TC



PS: Todd, you lucky duck, I expect to see some examples of different kingsnakes this winter, haha. I know you're in the perfect area for sightings

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