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.