Snakes in the mountains?

[jim9251]

To get back on subject, sorry OP, I read that snakes will hibernate in winter.

Snakes and many other reptiles find shelter in holes or burrows, and spend the winter inactive, or dormant. This is similar to hibernation.
Snakes crawl into caves, hollow logs, or other animal's burrows to hibernate. Sometimes there will be as many as a hundred snakes in one cave. (A group site is called a hibernaculum)
Snakes may also hibernate in any area free from frost and can be found in narrow crevices in rocks, animal burrows, holes under trees and stumps, under wood piles, and occasionally in basements.
During the first warm days of spring snakes emerge from their dens and begin sunning.

Coping With Snakes

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by wanneroo

I've yet to ever come across a snake in CO.

I've had relatives bump into them at lower elevations in CO. I guess in the summer they can go up to 9000 ft, but I never hear of any encounters up that high, although I'm sure it happens.

Oddly enough, during limited hiking I've never come across a snake in Colorado, but I did run into one in downtown Golden, and another in downtown Estes Park.

[phetaroi]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

This is really getting insain,
but why should I complane,
though it surely is inain,
it suits my silly brane,
and is not at all laim.

Burma Shave.

I don't think that was a Burma Shave sign!

[sesamekid]

Originally Posted by phetaroi

Oddly enough, during limited hiking I've never come across a snake in Colorado, but I did run into one in downtown Golden, and another in downtown Estes Park.

That's so funny, because my last snake-in-Colorado encounter was in downtown Golden! (This was about 8 years ago!) Maybe there is a snake den around there.

[Amy WJ]

At 8000' in Southern CO we've seen rattlers, bull, and garter snakes....all during warmer summer months. Not likely any snakes would be moving around in the snow.