Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I usually give up herping around here (northern Colorado) in October. Yesterday, December 5, I stopped in at my house for lunch. As I got to the front step, I noticed this garter snake in the flower bed right next to the front porch. It was 11:30 a.m. and the air temperature was 34 degrees, and very windy. The snake was in a very sheltered spot and was quite warm. After lunch I "herded" him to the hole where he hides. He entered quite quickly and was warm to the touch. While not really remarkable, I found this to be interesting. Hopefully he is now very deep in the hole as it is 3 degrees and snowing!

You gotta love a good surprise.
As FR frequently points out, the air temp can differ radically from the ground or surface temp. While out hiking the mountains here in AZ last week, I took along an IR temp gauge and thermometer. While the air temp topped out at 72, exposed rocks all were over 100 degrees (103 was the lowest reading I got) and even shaded rocks were in the mid 80s. Here is a Banded Rock Rattler from that day.
In the pic, I see the edge of a concrete porch and rock and concrete seem to really soak up that heat. I bet you would be amazed at the temp down inside his hole.

>>I usually give up herping around here (northern Colorado) in October. Yesterday, December 5, I stopped in at my house for lunch. As I got to the front step, I noticed this garter snake in the flower bed right next to the front porch. It was 11:30 a.m. and the air temperature was 34 degrees, and very windy. The snake was in a very sheltered spot and was quite warm. After lunch I "herded" him to the hole where he hides. He entered quite quickly and was warm to the touch. While not really remarkable, I found this to be interesting. Hopefully he is now very deep in the hole as it is 3 degrees and snowing!
>>

Kevin,
I tried to respond to your message, but the email bounced.
Send one directly to blclifford@comcast.net. (Not through kingsnake)
Bruce

ive been in colorado for about a year and a half now and have not been able to find snakes with any regularity. how have you done this year?

I didn't get out much this year, but still managed to find a fair number of snakes. Where are you located?

reminds me of a similar find.....was walking along a stream near my backyard at about the age of 10 or so....saw a snake coiled up a few feet from the bank,no visible damage to it....the species was a red sided garter snake.......in montgomery county,md(!)...lol,yes,it was either one of mine or my friend's stor-bought escapees,from the year or 2 prior to that winter...oh yeah,did i mention there was about a foot of snow on the ground?and no i was not able to locate any sort of tunnel,burrow,etc. to any hibernaculum(though at that age of course i had a fairly untrained eye).my best guess is it was discovered/dug up by a local predator,and was dropped along the way(?).very weird.and yeah that 34 degrees f. is awfully low for that snake to be out.