Snake “Nests?”
<p>As a wildlife educator, my problem with the concept of a snake “nest”<em> </em>is that it often evokes distasteful and inaccurate images in the listener. People picture an unwanted infestation such as large numbers of disease-carrying rodents gathering in a communal brooding spot and rearing multiple litters of mice or rats. People who are fearful of snakes are often quick to jump to the conclusion that the sight of a single snake crossing their yard may indicate a large number of dangerous animals nearby. This is almost never the case.</p>
<p>Do snakes sometimes gather in numbers? Sure. Several species of snake will gather to mate after emerging from brumation (the reptilian version of hibernation). Often, dozens of males will be attracted by the pheromones of a female and will pile up in order to mate with her. Snakes in the U.S. which display this behavior include gartersnakes (<em>Thamnophis</em>) and watersnakes (<em>Nerodia</em>). Anaconda (<em>Eunectes</em>) of South America are also known for this behavior, referred to as “breeding balls.”</p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/natural-world/snake-nests-e74db9aac8d8"><strong>Read More</strong></a></p>