Solid holes in rural Canada

Located about 6km north of Narcisse rural area of ​​Canada's Manitoba province, there is a collection of pits containing a large number of North American indigenous snakes.

Thamnophis sirtalis or "Red Garter Snake" is a yellow snake on a brown or green background, with an average length of about 55cm, maximum of about 137cm and an average weight of each animal. 150g.

During the cold winter, this snake is hibernated in an underground cave formed from the eroded solid limestone floor in the area.

After a long hibernation, usually the pioneering male snakes crawled to the ground first, they were here patiently waiting for the snake to come.Immediately after the female crawled out of the cave, it released pheromones, lightning fast attracting hundreds of males to grab them immediately to mate, forming a snake-like sphere of mucus.

Like most snake species, Thamnophis sirtalis has two penis on the body.The male snake will use the penis in the best position to mate with the female snake in the middle of the sphere.Interestingly, bisexual snakes can also release pheromones like females to trick males into heating and protecting them.

By the time of reproduction, one could see snake eggs lying everywhere, on the branches, on the ground, on the edge of the cave and some eggs from the trees falling to the ground and entwined. as zoology professor, Mason from Oregon State University estimated there were 35,000 snakes in a pit and more than 250,000 in the neighborhood in general.

There are four solid venues operating in Narcisse wildlife management area.The spots are connected by a 3km trail.Tourists from all over the world come to see this scene from observation platforms built next to solid gatherings, as well as many scientists studying this reptile reptile.

The number of Thamnophis sirtalis snakes around Narcisse is around 70,000, but a bad weather in 1999 killed tens of thousands before they returned to a long hibernation.

The tragedy of 1999 caused concern for the Narcisse wildlife management area once again, when snakes on the road migrated twice a year, they crossed the National Highway 17 to try to return. The dormant cave is crushed under the wheel across the road, making the number significantly reduced.

To limit solid accidents, people built up snow-covered fences about 15cm high to force snakes to enter the tunnels created below that along National Highway 17 back to the cave.

Measures to make this fence bring positive effects.Now there are only less than 1,000 snakes killed on the highway on every move in the winter.These snow fence trees create tunnels for solid movement inside. This is a sign for drivers to adjust the speed to slow down to avoid accidentally rolling over them.