Narcisse Snake Dens, Manitoba

Smaller snake groups emerging out of cracks

Red-sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis)

 So this entire blog entry will be a whole lot of pictures of garter snakes! That is exactly what you get if you visit Narcisse Snake Dens. This is the largest snake hibernacula in Canada! It is not  bio-diverse but the sheer numbers of snakes is unbelievable. I highly recommend adding it to your bucket list of places to visit (mostly if you actually like snakes).

Massive snake ball, Narcisse Snake Dens, MB

I am not surprised that snakes can suffocate in these things...

  The larger snake balls were definitely the largest I have ever seen in my life! These were over a foot deep and at least 3-4 feet wide. They are constantly moving and snakes are poking their heads out of the top and sides so that they can actually breathe.

Massive snake ball, Narcisse Snake Dens, MB

Massive snake ball, Narcisse Snake Dens, MB

 Somehow I managed to get a few shots of snakes on their own if they were emerging or on their way to the mating scene. 

Red-sided Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) coming out of a hole 

 Garter snakes aren't usually known for being climbers but they sure proved that they can. There were mating balls forming in many of the shrubs. Possibly this is due from snakes falling off higher rock faces down onto these shrubs but some males were seen climbing up to the balls so they could join in.

Red-sided Garter Snakes

 Not all the snakes were extremely active, although most were. A few were seen sitting in or near the cracks in the rock just catching some sun while all the other snakes slither over top of them.

Red-sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis)

Red-sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis)

This little guy looked tired... wonder why!

 Garter snake statue in town near the dens

  After a nice day out at the dens we had a lot of photos and were surprisingly tired considering the day didn't involve much walking. The snakes mostly just come to you because they are everywhere!

A good group of people to go out with