The annual gathering of garter snakes in Narcisse, Manitoba, known as the world’s largest, is currently taking place, albeit later than usual due to cooler temperatures this spring. Typically occurring at the end of April, this event sees tens of thousands of snakes emerging from their winter dens in Manitoba’s Interlake region to engage in mating activities.
Retired biologist Doug Collicutt explained that male snakes emerge first, eagerly waiting for the females to join them. Upon the females’ emergence, a frenzy of mating ensues, with males vying for the opportunity to mate. Visitors can witness these snakes forming “mating balls,” a spectacle unique to this natural phenomenon.
Collicutt highlighted that the delayed emergence was influenced by the ground temperature taking longer to warm up and the lack of rainfall, which plays a significant role in facilitating the snakes’ emergence. Despite the weather challenges, around 100 people explored the trail linking the dens, with young visitors like 12-year-old Liam Warren expressing awe at the sight of the numerous snakes.
Visitors like Veronique Simard, who had longed to visit the Narcisse snake dens for years, found the experience worth the journey, with her children also enjoying the outing. The emergence of the garter snakes typically lasts for about a month before they disperse to their summer feeding grounds, where they consume various prey, including leeches, bugs, and even baby birds.
Raelene Sawatzky-Dyck, a “nursery snake interpreter,” mentioned that the snakes travel significant distances for food during the summer months, ranging up to 20 or 30 kilometers. The reptiles eventually return to their dens around early September as the fall weather sets in. It is estimated that the Narcisse area hosts between 70,000 to 100,000 snakes during each spring emergence.
Despite the massive gathering of snakes, young visitors like 10-year-old Aiden Schmidt found the experience fascinating rather than frightening, appreciating the unique appearance of the snakes’ scales. The snake dens at Narcisse serve as a popular attraction for both locals and visitors, offering a glimpse into the intriguing behavior of these slithering creatures.