Reptiles on the move

[Catherine]

I have never seen a slow worm. That would be so exciting. I remember the newt. Right now I have a slug in my bathroom. I guess that is not as much fun. It did eat when I fed it last night. It is too cold to put it outside now.

I think snakes go quite deep into old animal burrows or under rocks in natural hollows. It would be interesting to know the site of a hibernaculum and watch for the snakes to come and go. They must all be settle in by now so we will see no wild reptiles until spring.

My little Western Hognose Snakes can hibernate and I think it is good for them. Some of my other snakes shut down for a short period. In Feb over half my snakes will stop eating for a few weeks. I might even cool the Hognoses down and give then a dark period. They like to be left alone in the winter anyhow. When the weather is at its coldest I will encourage some of them to sleep.