Sorry Folks first time posting...here it goes again

I had the opportunity of going north of Winnipeg to a place called Narcisse. Narcisse is home to one of the world largest collection of garter snakes. These snakes hibernate in the underground caves through the winter months and surface in early May for their mating ritual.They then leave the dens for the summer months and travel into marsh areas approixmately 60 miles around this area only to return in the fall to hibernate. There have been as many as 20,000 garter snakes at any one time in the caves. It was incredible to witness and if the weather is good we will go back this weekend to get more photos.

 

Thanks Steve,
The reason why is this is the mating season. The conservation officer advised us that for every one female their are 20 males. Not great odds if your a male.
Anyways each year these snakes travel up to 60 miles to come back to these dens to hibernate every year. The mating ritual lasts a couple weeks, then they leave the dens for the summer marshes andreturn to hibernate......spring comes again and the whole process stars over again. The numbers can be large....in excess of 50,000
here is a link to look at
http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/wildlife/managing/fs_redsided_garter_snake.html