In just 5 days goes from sub zero to snakes

[tamrock]

Last week was bitter freezing cold where my 5 yr old grandson was earning a little cash pushing snow to our mile high sunshine today. I went out to uncover some leaves to find an earwig to feed my Venus fly trap and dang if I don't encounter a garter snake catching some rays in the midmorning sunshine also hunt earwigs I assume.

 

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[Chilli]

Last week was bitter freezing cold where my 5 yr old grandson was earning a little cash pushing snow to our mile high sunshine today. I went out to uncover some leaves to find an earwig to feed my Venus fly trap and dang if I don't encounter a garter snake catching some rays in the midmorning sunshine also hunt earwigs I assume.

Wow that's early after the snow! Is that usual to see them like that for that species?

 

[DizzyDigger]

Yep, that's Colorado weather for ya.

I remember pulling into a truck stop just north of Denver one Sunday afternoon, and about this time of year. It was nice out, and warm. Warm enough in fact I left my window partly open and didn't have to run the truck to keep the heater going.

Woke up about 5am and there was 5" of snow on the hood...

 

[Chilli]

Yep, that's Colorado weather for ya.

I remember pulling into a truck stop just north of Denver one Sunday afternoon, and about this time of year. It was nice out, and warm. Warm enough in fact I left my window partly open and didn't have to run the truck to keep the heater going.

Woke up about 5am and there was 5" of snow on the hood...View attachment 2194716

The type of place to be prepared for anything then regardless of season. 👍

 

[tamrock]

Wow that's early after the snow! Is that usual to see them like that for that species?

I'm not sure, because this is the first snake I've seen out and about during the winter month around here.

 

[tamrock]

Yep, that's Colorado weather for ya.

I remember pulling into a truck stop just north of Denver one Sunday afternoon, and about this time of year. It was nice out, and warm. Warm enough in fact I left my window partly open and didn't have to run the truck to keep the heater going.

Woke up about 5am and there was 5" of snow on the hood...View attachment 2194716

I've seen a few mornings like that when I'd be waking up somewhere on the road during the winters. Been a good year now, since I've retired from that way of life.

 

[RGINN]

That's a good snake pic. In 21 years I've only come across 2 snakes here in the central mountains. However, prairie rattles are the reason I don't sleep on the ground anymore in the San Luis Valley, haha!

 

[Gare]

If garter snakes are out sunning others must be out also ?
CORRECT ?

 

[tamrock]

If garter snakes are out sunning others must be out also ?
CORRECT ?

You would think. I've seen only one garter snake a few times before in this same pile of sticks. It's up against the foundation of my sup-level basement. I think there just enough warmth and bugs under the pile of sticks and leaves to keep a snake healthy throughout the winter. It only comes out in this one area on the days it's sunny and warm. For all I know there could be a bunch more down under that pile of sticks and leaves. Could be by not raking out all that debris against the foundation I've created a natural way of bug & rodent control around the house. I'm sure the like to eat new born baby mice. I know they can swallow down smaller frogs, because I saw a garter snake once slithering along with the face and two front legs of a frog hanging out of its mouth.

 

[tamrock]

That's a good snake pic. In 21 years I've only come across 2 snakes here in the central mountains. However, prairie rattles are the reason I don't sleep on the ground anymore in the San Luis Valley, haha!

Yeah that wouldn't be a good nights rest thinking some rattler would find a nice warm body to crawl under on a chilly night would do just right for it's cold blooded metabolism.

 

[pa plateau hiker]

If garter snakes are out sunning others must be out also ?
CORRECT ?

NO. Garter snakes are the first snake to come out of hibernation in the spring and the last to hibernate in the fall. You won't see other variety of snakes out this time of year. I'm anxiously waiting for rattlesnakes to come out of hibernation.

 

[Gare]

Thanks PA that is good to know But i also know there is always exceptions to every rule lol

 

[RGINN]

In this part of the country the earliest I've seen rattlers out is in March in the San Luis Valley. If there's a warm sunny day, they'll come out but just lounge around the den. About May they will start to spread out. I've seen them out sunning around the den in Oklahoma in February. I know where there's a den down by Penitente Canyon and hope to get some pics of them out in a month or so. And there is nothing else that sounds like that buzz of a rattler, you'll never forget it.

 

[pa plateau hiker]

Thanks PA that is good to know But i also know there is always exceptions to every rule lol

You're right on that exception. Years ago a local person took a photo of a rattlesnake on top of snow in the winter. I'm out all the time looking for rattlers and the earliest I've come across one in northern Pa was April 25, 56 degrees. But it was at a den. This is the snake. Enjoy!

 

[ToddsPoint]

It was 68° and beautiful at the river Fri. It’s 18° now on Sun morning. A slow roll out for spring?🤔

 

[beepbleep]

That fat ground hog might have been right after all.

 

[tamrock]

It was 68° and beautiful at the river Fri. It’s 18° now on Sun morning. A slow roll out for spring?🤔

It's 30° here this morning with an expected high of 63 today. We're not out of the woods yet as march can at times be a doozie. I was looking back on when March had this storm they labeled a bomb cyclone which happened back in 2019.