The world’s largest gathering of snakes is currently taking place in Manitoba, albeit slightly later than usual, with tens of thousands of garter snakes emerging from their dens in Narcisse.
This annual spectacle typically occurs towards the end of April when the temperatures rise sufficiently for the cold-blooded creatures to leave their winter shelters in Manitoba’s Interlake region and initiate their mating rituals.
However, this year’s cooler spring temperatures caused a delay in the snakes’ emergence. The province recently confirmed that the snake population had reached a significant number, allowing interested individuals to witness this natural phenomenon up close.
Retired biologist Doug Collicutt explained that male snakes come out early to wait for the females to join them. Once the females emerge, a chaotic scene unfolds as multiple males vie for their attention, resulting in a frenzy of mating activity.
Visitors to the area can observe clusters of snakes entwined in “mating balls,” according to Collicutt.
Collicutt noted that it takes time for the ground to warm up enough to facilitate the snakes’ emergence, and the lack of recent rainfall has also played a role in the timing of their appearance.
About 100 people were observed walking along the trail connecting the dens on a Sunday morning.
Twelve-year-old Liam Warren, who counted 59 snakes, expressed surprise at the number considering the inclement weather conditions.
“It’s quite chilly,” remarked Liam, who had visited with his family to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Veronique Simard, Liam’s mother, had heard about the snake dens years ago while living in Quebec and had eagerly anticipated visiting them since moving to Manitoba.
She expressed satisfaction with the three-hour drive from Brandon to witness the event.
According to Collicutt, the snake emergence lasts approximately a month before the garter snakes resume their normal activities.
Raelene Sawatzky-Dyck, one of the interpreters assisting visitors with snake-related inquiries, mentioned that the snakes eventually disperse to their summer feeding grounds where they consume leeches, insects, and occasionally young birds.
She explained, “Due to their small size, it takes them a considerable amount of time to travel, sometimes up to 20 or 30 kilometers, in search of food.”