Why 30000 red sided snakes gather at Manitoba dens every spring for mating

Published on 28 April 2026

It is not migration or feeding but chemistry driven matchmaking

Every spring in Manitoba, more than 30,000 red sided garter snakes emerge from the Narcisse Snake Dens to reproduce. The gathering is not migration or hunting but mating: males cluster around females in a swirling “mating ball” guided by chemical signals. Afterward, the snakes disperse for the off season, returning reliably year after year.

Red sided garter snakes assemble annually at Narcisse Dens to reproduce
Males form “mating balls” around females using chemical signals
The spectacle is driven by site fidelity, not migration
Snakes disperse after breeding and return the next spring

#nature #reproduction #wildlife #behavior #manitoba

Read the full story at The Economic Times

This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on The Economic Times

Why 30000 red sided snakes gather at Manitoba dens every spring for mating

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