How can a Garter Snake Survive in the Wild?

[DangerNoodle]

I live in Canada, and temperatures can get pretty low, even in the summer. I read that garter snakes need somewhere in the range of 22-30 degrees Celsius to live and digest properly, so how can they live in the wild where temperatures constantly dip below 20? Thanks for your help!

[guidofatherof5]

Nothing to it for them. They are well equiped to deal with it as the temps vary. In captivity we try to offer them the best environment. In the wild they adjust to use what they are given.

[Qwerty3159]

They take advantage of microclimates.
On a summer night for example when it gets abnormally cool they can still stay pretty warm curled up under a log or down a hole.

[Albert Clark]

Yep! They (garter snakes) are hard wired for colder extremes of temperature. It's actually abnormal for them to not experience brumation temperatures. It's a truly natural part of their cycle of life.

[Kantar]

I live in Manitoba, Canada. I have a wild radix I almost ran over back in mid November last year, temp was like 4C and it was sunbathing on the road. It was just a baby, so I kept it, the next day it dipped so cold and a layer of snow was on the ground. This year I was finding a bunch of snakes out with the temperatures 6C, I also notice that if the temp is too hot, you won't see many snakes out, I typically find lots when the temp is like 18 to 22.

Garters are very adaptable... kinda why I say 40F is t-shirt weather lol