Narcisse Snake Dens: Difference between revisions
m →External links: The offered Video on Youtube marked Private when accessed 2014-06-17, so I substituted Nature North's videos page. |
SimLibrarian (talk | contribs) Adding local short description: "Wildlife management area in Manitoba, Canada", overriding Wikidata description "winter denning grounds of tens of thousands of red-sided garter snakes." |
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{{Short description|Wildlife management area in Manitoba, Canada}} |
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[[File:Narcisse Snake Dens Sign.JPG|thumb|Narcisse Snake Dens welcome sign]] |
[[File:Narcisse Snake Dens Sign.JPG|thumb|Narcisse Snake Dens welcome sign]] |
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[[File:Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis.jpg|thumb|A red-sided garter snake]] |
[[File:Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis.jpg|thumb|A red-sided garter snake]] |
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The '''Narcisse Snake |
The '''Narcisse Snake Dens''' is a provincial [[wildlife management area]] located in the [[Rural Municipality of Armstrong]] about {{convert|6|km|abbr=on}} north of Narcisse, [[Manitoba]]. The dens are the winter home of tens of thousands of [[Common garter snake|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]] [[bedrock]]. 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. |
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particular type of snake. Their winter dens are subterranean caverns formed by the area's water-worn [[limestone]] [[bedrock]]. In the spring, they come up from their dens to the snake pits, where they engage in mating rituals. Then they disperse into the nearby marshes for the summer. |
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== Conservation == |
== Conservation == |
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[[File:Red-sided garter snake.jpg|thumb|Close up of a red-sided garter snake|alt=|221x221px]] |
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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. [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/1999/06/16/16061999_snakes.html] This tragedy triggered concern about the snakes' biannual migratory path, which cuts right across [[Manitoba Provincial Highway 17|Highway 17]]. Every year, |
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. [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/1999/06/16/16061999_snakes.html] 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]] and volunteers to intervene. |
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Foot-high [[snow fence]]s were built to force snakes into 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 |
Foot-high [[snow fence]]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. |
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== Visiting == |
== Visiting == |
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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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/fish-wildlife/snakes_narcisse/index.html|title=Agriculture and Resource Development | Province of Manitoba|website=www.gov.mb.ca}}</ref> |
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{{howto| section|date=May 2014}} |
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The best time to visit the Narcisse Snake Pits{{whom|date=May 2014}} is late April to early May, which is the mating season. Another good time to go is early September, when the snakes slither back down to their winter dens.{{or|date=May 2014}} |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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* [[Rae Bridgman]] (author of The MiddleGate Books, which feature the snakes of Narcisse, Manitoba) |
* [[Rae Bridgman]] (author of The MiddleGate Books, which feature the snakes of Narcisse, Manitoba) |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* [ |
* [https://www.gov.mb.ca/nrnd/fish-wildlife/snakes_narcisse/index.html The Snakes of Narcisse | Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection] (Province of Manitoba) |
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* [http://www.naturenorth.com/spring/creature/garter/Fgarter.html Snakes Alive!] (Nature North Zine) |
* [http://www.naturenorth.com/spring/creature/garter/Fgarter.html Snakes Alive!] (Nature North Zine) |
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* [http://www.naturenorth.com/spring/creature/garter/Narcisse_Snake_Dens_Videos.html NatureNorth's - Narcisse Snake Dens Videos] |
* [http://www.naturenorth.com/spring/creature/garter/Narcisse_Snake_Dens_Videos.html NatureNorth's - Narcisse Snake Dens Videos] |
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* [https://www.inaturalist.org/places/narcisse-wildlife-management-area Narcisse Wildlife Management Area, MB, CA on iNaturalist] |
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jTxiWmSpk8 If You're Scared of Snakes, Don't Watch This, National Geographic News] |
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{{coord|50|44|2.05|N|97|31|45.57|W|type:landmark_region:CA|display=title}} |
* {{coord|50|44|2.05|N|97|31|45.57|W|type:landmark_region:CA|display=title}} |
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{{Manitoba parks}} |
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[[Category:Geography of Manitoba]] |
[[Category:Geography of Manitoba]] |
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[[Category:Natural history of Manitoba]] |
[[Category:Natural history of Manitoba]] |
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[[Category:Wildlife management areas of Manitoba]] |
Revision as of 03:10, 23 May 2023
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Thamnophis_sirtalis_parietalis.jpg/220px-Thamnophis_sirtalis_parietalis.jpg)
The Narcisse Snake Dens is a provincial wildlife management area located in the Rural Municipality of Armstrong about 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Narcisse, Manitoba. 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 bedrock. 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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Red-sided_garter_snake.jpg/221px-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. [1] This tragedy triggered concern about the snakes' biannual migratory path, which cuts right across 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 and volunteers to intervene.
Foot-high snow fences 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.[1]
See also
- Rae Bridgman (author of The MiddleGate Books, which feature the snakes of Narcisse, Manitoba)
References
- ^ "Agriculture and Resource Development | Province of Manitoba". www.gov.mb.ca.
External links
- The Snakes of Narcisse | Wildlife and Ecosystem Protection (Province of Manitoba)
- Snakes Alive! (Nature North Zine)
- NatureNorth's - Narcisse Snake Dens Videos
- Narcisse Wildlife Management Area, MB, CA on iNaturalist
- If You're Scared of Snakes, Don't Watch This, National Geographic News
- 50°44′2.05″N 97°31′45.57″W / 50.7339028°N 97.5293250°W