When should I see a Narcisse snake den?

May 6, 2022: Please consider delaying your trip a few weeks. Every spring, the Narcisse Snake Dens are alive with tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes as they slither to the surface from their winter dens.

What is Narcisse Manitoba most famous for?

One of Manitoba’s most famous attractions, the Narcisse Snake Dens, is the place to be this weekend. Every year, tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes come out of their winter homes to meet ‘that special someone’.

What is the ground of Narcisse made with?

The marshes surrounding the Narcisse Snake Dens are filled with insects, earthworms, snails, fish, and frogs. To a red-sided garter snake, this is like an all-you-can-eat buffet. It’s only natural that these snakes would be drawn to an area with such an abundance of food.

Are Narcisse snakes poisonous?

The animal is non-venomous and is considered to be harmless. In winter, it hibernates in an underground den with other snakes. From early fall to spring, the area around the Narcisse Snake Dens in Manitoba contains the largest concentration of red-sided garter snakes in the world.

What are Narcisse Snake Dens known for?

red-sided garter snakes
The Narcisse Snake Dens is a provincial wildlife management area located in the Rural Municipality of Armstrong about 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Narcisse, Manitoba. The dens are the winter home of tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis).

What does a snake home look like?

The perfect environment for snakes to thrive in has tall grassy areas with large piles of dirt, leaves, or sticks. These environments are populated with insects and small rodents. Snakes will continue to stick around areas they know have food for them to eat; thus, it’s important to eliminate their food sources.

Does Manitoba have lots of snakes?

More than 70,000 snakes slither out of dens to breed each spring at a Manitoba wildlife area, and thousands of people just can’t keep away from the writhing show.

How do you find a rattlesnake den?

Under porches and patios: Rattlesnakes try to avoid getting too close to humans, but they may find adequate shelter in hollows under your house’s foundation, as well as under porches and patios. If there are cracks or crevices around the base of your house or porch, these could be entry areas for snake dens.

How many snakes are in a den?

A snake den may contain dozens to hundreds of serpents. The garter snake spends the winter in a group with other garter snakes. A garter snake den can contain hundreds of these snakes at one time. Alternatively, a rattlesnake den may have a few more than 20 snakes in it.

Where do snakes go in the winter months?

Snakes may seek out cold weather shelters in caves or holes, under rocks or logs, in tree stumps or underground. They may also shelter in a hibernaculum. A snake hibernaculum is an underground den beneath the frost line where multiple dormant snakes can go to safely protect themselves from the cold.

How do you know if you have a snake den?

Examine areas where you’ve seen snakes and look for holes in the ground that might indicate a nest. You shouldn’t try to deal with these spots yourself, but you can make a note of them for when a pest control company arrives. Remember that snakes prefer damp, cool, and dark areas.

Do snakes burrow into the ground?

Digging Behavior Most terrestrial snakes can burrow through leaf litter or exceptionally loose soil, but few snakes can dig into packed earth. Some snakes native to areas with loose substrates are effective excavators, including the sand boas (Eryx sp.)