The largest gathering of snakes in the world woke up from a nap - and the photos are insane
Like all other snakes, red-sided garter snakes, are cold-blooded. During the winter, when the temperatures drop to below freezing, they hibernate for eight months.
![The largest gathering of snakes in the world woke up from a nap - and the photos are insane](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-52214162%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-1132294%2Flike-all-other-snakes-red-sided-garter-snakes-are-cold-blooded-during-the-winter-when-the-temperatures-drop-to-below-freezing-they-hibernate-for-eight-months-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Manitoba, Canada is laced with sinkholes that line its superficial limestone bed rock. Underground dens form here, attracting the snakes, who see it as the ideal spot for an 8-month snooze.
![Manitoba, Canada is laced with sinkholes that line its superficial limestone bed rock. Underground dens form here, attracting the snakes, who see it as the ideal spot for an 8-month snooze.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214164,width-700,height-525,imgsize-382219/manitoba-canada-is-laced-with-sinkholes-that-line-its-superficial-limestone-bed-rock-underground-dens-form-here-attracting-the-snakes-who-see-it-as-the-ideal-spot-for-an-8-month-snooze-.jpg)
Source: National Geographic
But space is limited. Thousands of snakes end up in dens as large as an average living room.
![But space is limited. Thousands of snakes end up in dens as large as an average living room.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214165,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1474366/but-space-is-limited-thousands-of-snakes-end-up-in-dens-as-large-as-an-average-living-room-.jpg)
Once spring arrives, thousands of the the red-sided garters slither over one another to emerge from their lairs, forming a carpet of quivering snakes.
![Once spring arrives, thousands of the the red-sided garters slither over one another to emerge from their lairs, forming a carpet of quivering snakes.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214166,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1476004/once-spring-arrives-thousands-of-the-the-red-sided-garters-slither-over-one-another-to-emerge-from-their-lairs-forming-a-carpet-of-quivering-snakes-.jpg)
Source: Government of Manitoba
It's also peak breeding time: The males eagerly look for a female to mate with in the areas surrounding the den.
![It](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214167,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1268534/its-also-peak-breeding-time-the-males-eagerly-look-for-a-female-to-mate-with-in-the-areas-surrounding-the-den-.jpg)
Source: New York Times
In the huge heap of snakes, it can be tough for the males to recognize the females, even though they're longer and wider than the males.
![In the huge heap of snakes, it can be tough for the males to recognize the females, even though they](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214168,width-700,height-525,imgsize-944446/in-the-huge-heap-of-snakes-it-can-be-tough-for-the-males-to-recognize-the-females-even-though-theyre-longer-and-wider-than-the-males-.jpg)
Source: Government of Manitoba
This is made even more interesting by the fact that the ratio of males to females is 10,000 to 1.
![This is made even more interesting by the fact that the ratio of males to females is 10,000 to 1.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214169,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1241207/this-is-made-even-more-interesting-by-the-fact-that-the-ratio-of-males-to-females-is-10000-to-1-.jpg)
Source: Government of Manitoba
The male-biased sex ratio is a result of the males pouring out of the den first and awaiting the females, who typically emerge over the course of a few weeks.
![The male-biased sex ratio is a result of the males pouring out of the den first and awaiting the females, who typically emerge over the course of a few weeks.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214170,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1371714/the-male-biased-sex-ratio-is-a-result-of-the-males-pouring-out-of-the-den-first-and-awaiting-the-females-who-typically-emerge-over-the-course-of-a-few-weeks-.jpg)
Once the males are lured by a female's pheromones, several males try to court one female female by rubbing their chins along her back. This is called a "mating ball."
![Once the males are lured by a female](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214171,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1180159/once-the-males-are-lured-by-a-females-pheromones-several-males-try-to-court-one-female-female-by-rubbing-their-chins-along-her-back-this-is-called-a-mating-ball-.jpg)
Source: New York Times
The male closest to the female copulates with her, leaving a gelatinous plug inside her body that blocks her reproductive tract for about two days, warding off other males.
![The male closest to the female copulates with her, leaving a gelatinous plug inside her body that blocks her reproductive tract for about two days, warding off other males.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214172,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1442538/the-male-closest-to-the-female-copulates-with-her-leaving-a-gelatinous-plug-inside-her-body-that-blocks-her-reproductive-tract-for-about-two-days-warding-off-other-males-.jpg)
Then, the female can slither away from the carpet of snakes, where she'll in feed and give birth later in the summer. One female can give birth to 40-50 young at once.
![Then, the female can slither away from the carpet of snakes, where she](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214175,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1138721/then-the-female-can-slither-away-from-the-carpet-of-snakes-where-shell-in-feed-and-give-birth-later-in-the-summer-one-female-can-give-birth-to-40-50-young-at-once-.jpg)
However, if the female rejects the male, she can prevent his sperm from fertilizing her eggs, a mechanism called "cryptic female choice." She simply waits for the smelly plug to dissolve and then mates with another male.
![However, if the female rejects the male, she can prevent his sperm from fertilizing her eggs, a mechanism called "cryptic female choice." She simply waits for the smelly plug to dissolve and then mates with another male.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214177,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1128008/however-if-the-female-rejects-the-male-she-can-prevent-his-sperm-from-fertilizing-her-eggs-a-mechanism-called-cryptic-female-choice-she-simply-waits-for-the-smelly-plug-to-dissolve-and-then-mates-with-another-male-.jpg)
Source: New York Times, Government of Manitoba
In September, the snakes return to their dens for the winter, where scientists think they spend the next eight months in hibernation once again.
![In September, the snakes return to their dens for the winter, where scientists think they spend the next eight months in hibernation once again.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-52214178,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1040324/in-september-the-snakes-return-to-their-dens-for-the-winter-where-scientists-think-they-spend-the-next-eight-months-in-hibernation-once-again-.jpg)
Source: New York Times
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