I live in north central Alabama & for the past 4 years, I've hibernated my Russian & Hermanns in the refrigerator.

He starts winding down in October & I bring him inside when the temp drops below 40. I soak him, then put him in a plastic shoe box with holes in the sides & lid, full of cypress mulch, & place him on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. This usually happens around Thanksgiving. Sometime in March I take him out, he warms up, & is ready to go.

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