![Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Thamnophis_sirtalis_parietalis.jpg)
The Narcisse Snake Dens is a provincial
wildlife management area
A Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a protected area set aside for the conservation of wildlife and for recreational activities involving wildlife.
New Zealand
There are 11 Wildlife Management Areas in New Zealand:
* Horsham Downs Wildlife Ma ...
located in the
Rural Municipality of Armstrong
Armstrong is a rural municipality in the province of Manitoba in Western Canada. It lies in the southern area of the Interlake and was named after James William Armstrong, a Manitoba politician.
History
The surrounding area was settled by immigr ...
about north of Narcisse,
Manitoba
Manitoba ( ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population o ...
. The dens are the winter home of tens of thousands of
red-sided garter snakes (''Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis''). These pits are the largest known concentration in the world of this particular type of snake. Their winter dens are caverns formed by the area's water-worn
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
bedrock
In geology, bedrock is solid Rock (geology), rock that lies under loose material (regolith) within the crust (geology), crust of Earth or another terrestrial planet.
Definition
Bedrock is the solid rock that underlies looser surface mater ...
. In the spring, they come up from their dens to the snake pits, where they mate, then they disperse into the nearby marshes for the summer.
Conservation
![Red-sided garter snake](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3e/Red-sided_garter_snake.jpg)
The population of red-sided garter snakes around Narcisse was roughly 70,000 until terrible weather in 1999 killed tens of thousands of them before they could reach their winter dens
This tragedy triggered concern about the snakes' biannual migratory path, which cuts right across
Manitoba Provincial Highway 17, Highway 17. Every year, 10,000 snakes trying to get to or from their winter dens had been crushed under the wheels of vehicles. This had not been a problem before, because the vast population compensated for the losses. After the winter of 1999, however, the population of garter snakes was dangerously low, causing
Manitoba Hydro
The Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board, operating as Manitoba Hydro, is the electric power and natural gas utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1961, it is a provincial Crown Corporation, governed by the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Boa ...
and volunteers to intervene.
Foot-high
snow fence
A snow fence, similar to a sand fence, is a barrier that forces windblown, drifting snow to accumulate in a desired place. They are primarily employed to minimize the amount of snowdrift on roadways and railways. Farmers and ranchers use snow fe ...
s were built to force snakes into six-inch (15-cm) tunnels that went under Highway 17. Since some snakes still managed to squeeze under the fence and onto the road, signs were put up during the migratory season urging motorists to slow down to avoid accidentally driving over snakes. These measures worked, and now fewer than 1000 snakes per season are killed on the highway.
Visiting
The conservation area is open to the public. The snakes are most active during the spring and fall, in late April to early May, which is the mating season, and also in early September, when the snakes slither back down to their winter dens.
See also
*
Rae Bridgman
Rae St. Clair Bridgman, a Canadians, Canadian anthropologist, author and artist, writes and illustrates picture books for young children and is the author/illustrator of The MiddleGate Books, a series of fantasy books for children inspired by the ...
(author of The MiddleGate Books, which feature the snakes of Narcisse, Manitoba)
References
External links
The Snakes of Narcisse , Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection(Province of Manitoba)
(Nature North Zine)
Narcisse Wildlife Management Area, MB, CA on iNaturalist
If You're Scared of Snakes, Don't Watch This, National Geographic News
{{Manitoba parks
Geography of Manitoba
Natural history of Manitoba
Wildlife management areas of Manitoba