Hibernacula

Wintering Protection for Reptiles

Slowing their body processes down to a death like pace enables many animals, reptiles included, to live through long months of cold with no possibility of a food supply.

In many cases, snakes and lizards find their own hibernaculum under a dry log, a small nook under a rock or other object to hide under. Trusting that the place they select to hibernate won’t be moved or disturbed putting them at risk is an act of faith.

Building hibernacula for reptiles to safely hibernate is easy. The places that they select all on their own for their winter sleep can be copied.

Here’s a simple hibernaculum that I’ve built on the edge of my pond. I’ve found young snakes, and sometimes a large shed skin nestled under the edge of the rubber pond liner, so it’s not a stretch to think that they will find this place to make their winter home.

The hibernaculum consists of several chimney flue liners laid on their sides in a row, with spaces between them. The rubber liner is laid over top, with large flat rocks to hold it in place.

Then the area is backfilled with good draining soil and gravel.

Dry, with a rubber roof to hold out the rain, and good drainage to make sure they don’t drown by accident in the winter, it’s perfect. It also keeps them safe from predators that might dig them up, and they’ll emerge as the sun warms the rocks above them, signaling the return of spring.

go to Drought Smart Plants home page

Xeric Garden Wildlife

Reptiles