Crotalus lutosus will emerge, disperse, then survive through snowstorms and single digit temperatures away from the hibernaucula. But these conditions aren't unusual for April and May in the Great Basin. It seems like the snakes in areas with more cover around the dens are more likely to disperse early.
I would imagine that Sistrurus here do the same, a layer of snow will insulate rather well if they are down even just 2/3 inches below groundlevel would probably be enough to survive. However, on the week in discussion the temps went from a 60F high on Saturday/ Sunday to a DTH 28F/NTL -9 on Tuesday. The snake was found on Wednesday morning?? Im still guessing it had taken refuge under a flower planter along the house wall and decided to find warmer refuge to late... Sistrurus
, to my knowledge or experience, are not communal here or anywhere in their range. My viridis
are also rather lonely in their denning habits, using sagebrush burrows and the many abandoned gopher/prairie dog and fox holes scattered about my desert. A distinct difference from the large dens of their farther north representations. Atrox and molossus I have found in communal areas, and I do know of one den with a decent mixed population of atrox
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