Snake pits

photo by Heidi SelzlerEvery spring (April and May), visitors flock to the Salt River Day-Use Area in Wood Buffalo National Park to check out the “Snake Pits”, the northern-most colony of red-sided garter snakes in North America. During this time, the snakes make a brief above-ground appearance for mating prior to migrating to their summer feeding grounds. At this time, the males form “mating balls” around the females, resulting in piles of dozens of small garter snakes all over the ground. Children especially seem to delight in the slithering piles of snakes.