Dens

[Dan72]

So some random thoughts that I thought I would throw out in a thread and get some of you experienced members to enlighten me. I'm in the city about eight blocks from the fair grounds for the state of Iowa. I'm not certain how far east of the fair grounds this can be said, but west of the fair grounds where I am it is radix central. I've been told from those in the know that every type (that I could think of) radix can be found within these city blocks. My thoughts are these... in an area where I'll guess it to be 10 miles wide by 5 miles deep (if that makes any sense/and it's not larger than that) and keeping in mind that this area then is made up of urban living, yards, alleys, vacant lot, parking lots, strip malls, streets..... how many dens could there be for the population of snakes in the area? Does every block have a den? Every 3/4 blocks? Does every yard have one for the "family" of snakes that occupy that yard? I know in the wild meanning country, forest, open grasslands, etc.... you might have a den with hundreds of snakes in it that covers miles worth of said area. I guess I'm just trying to wrap my mind around what these city dweller snakes do when its time to brumate in the winter. How far do they travel from a den site? How do they know to go back to the den site when the time comes? How do babies of that year know to go there when they've never been there before? If anyone has any good links to share that discuss garter snake dens point me to them, thanks.

[guidofatherof5]

That is a plethora of questions.:D
Where to begin, where to begin.
Dens: Anything that will hold the temp. above freezing. Rotten tree stump, pile of rubbish, insulated wall, rodent burrow, old cistern, wells, etc.
Some snakes gather together in large groups and others as singles or smaller group.
Dr. Mason is still investigation where first year snakes brumate as they are not at the dens. My guess is these baby snakes make use of very small areas out in the wild to brumate. Anything that keeps them below the frost line.
How do they know to return to the den?. I'm not sure but I bet they read the sun position(intensity and duration) along with temps.
Getting to a den site? They follow pheromone trails left by all the other snakes.
Well, that's my take on you questions.;)

[Dan72]

So I've read elsewhere what others use as brumation temps for their collections. And I'm sure the snakes would rather it not get TOO cold but in the wild as long as what they pick for a den stays above freezing it really could be just about anything/anywhere?