Hibernaculum

[Scotty Allen]

Somewhere, sometime, I saw plans for building a snake hibernaculum. This plan detailed diameter and depth of hole, what to fill it with etc. Friends who are rebuilding their home have many, many garter snakes hibernating in the foundation and want to provide an alternate when the home is rebuilt. Anyone who can help with diagrams, details etc. would be a big help.

[tHeGiNo]

Sorry but I have no idea, I wil definitely look around for you. It is great that yourself and your friend care for the well being of the animals, very very nice of you.

[Lisa]

I know the Metro Toronto Zoo has one or 2 built. basicly it looks like big pile of bricks and concrete and wood and such. maybe they might have info on building one.

[Burmies]

I will keep my eyes open for you.

Burmies

[Beejay]

Scotty, is the plan to use raw materials or manufactured materials or a combination? Because the ones at Pelee Island seem to be working....and they're basically a pile of brush with a few ABS tubes sticking out from the middle at ground level.

The ones Lisa is refering to are just piles of junk, same thing, only recycled local trash instead of heaps of tree prunings and garlic mustards.

Bj

[Scales Zoo]

Building a hibernaculum is something Sheila and I have talked about. We have talked about making one at the local dump - so the bullsnakes could control the rats, and we have also talked about making one in the basement of the zoo where people could look at bullsnakes brumating through plexiglass.

The best garter snake hibernaculi that I've seen out in this country, are old farmhouse basements that have been collapsed. Abandoned empty cisterns, and even the bottom of old abandoned farm outhouses (that haven't been used since the 40's) also make good homes for garter snakes.

If then can wait until summer, take house off of foundation, wreck foundation, and build new house away from original foundation - they could probably make great hibernacula. Personally I'd throw a bunch of pipes and large rocks in the old basement hole, and then pile some dirt on one side of it.

Garter snakes find their way back home, I think a combination of pherimones and natural honing device that we do not understand - lets these snakes know where home is.

I'd love to have a big snake den in my backyard.

Wait a minute, I guess I do. Rattlesnakes and bullsnakes den in the thousands 12 kms from our house. Out here 12 kms takes about 8 minutes to get to.

I'm sure that if he so chosed, he could make an elaborate set of tunnels and caves with different sizes of pvc pipe - but I'd go for the natural aspect.

Could he leave the old house there for the snakes, and build his new one somewhere else in the yard? That way, the snakes could use the house overwinter.

But I do remember seeing plans for snake dens at one time. As far as I remember, it was a lot of large concrete blocks piled up askew, and then partially covered in dirt.

Anyways, I'm glad to hear that people are going to try to help the snakes - that is great.

Ryan and Sheila

[Matt]

scotty....while i was working at the toronto zoo a couple of years ago, i was responisble for the development of a pamphlet that outlined how to build a hibernaculum....i havent seen one around in a while, but i think i may have some hanging around the house still.
That may be the one you saw.

On top of that, as part of a conservation project, they sent me out to orangeville to build a hibernaculum for garters.....im pretty sure its still there and in good shape.

anyhow, i will search for that pamphlet for you and let you know....it may take a while, but ill do my best!

[Scotty Allen]

Thanks for all the help and suggestions folks.