Snakes in Winter

Carpet Python- Bert

Snakes hibernate in Winter, right? Well, not really. When the weather becomes cold in Winter snakes tend to become inactive which leads to a slowing down of their metabolism and bodily processes. The technical term to describe this is known as Brumation. Snakes will tend to react to any heat source and be active again. For example, they will remain active all year when kept in captivity with an artificial heat source. In Australia, especially along the milder east coast, snakes can be sometimes seen over mid Winter should the temperature become unseasonably
warm on any given day.







Sandra and I have observed two snakes over the last week in our garden, despite it only being early July.  A fine 2-metre long carpet python we named Bert! - we think Bert is the same snake we see quite often over the warmer months. Also yesterday, and again today, we came across a cute (20cm long and as thin as your little finger) baby Green Tree Snake.

Young Green Tree Snake

Some argue that snake sightings out of season are more common owing to the Global Warming process. Maybe we are just becoming more observant when it comes to the life in our gardens? Anyone else out there noticing the unexpected in your patch?