The Wild Reason You Might See a Ball of Snakes in Your Yard This Spring
What Is a Snake Ball in Your Yard
Picture it. You are walking through your pristine, freshly cut lawn when all of a sudden you spot something straight from the depths of Hades. It's a ball of writhing, slithering snakes. You don't know whether to run or light it on fire because what in the Medusa is going on here?
Okay, first, breathe. It's actually no big deal. It's just a snake ball. Yes, a snake ball. A ball of snakes, which sounds terrifying, but it’s not. Garter snakes, which are native to Indiana and Kentucky, are just mating. There are a few different types of snakes that will cluster up to mate but only garter snakes form large snake balls.
Gary Miller snapped a photo over the weekend in northeast Iowa.
Gary told me that they have an underground snake nest on their property. They appear every spring when the weather warms. How nice of Gary to let them live rent free!
Why Garter Snakes Form a “Snake Ball”
When female garter snakes come out of hibernation, they release a pheromone that signals males that they are ready to mate. Depending on how populated the area is, dozens and sometimes even hundreds, yes hundreds, of male garter snakes will show up for the chance to get it on.
The result is what looks like chaos. A bunch of males form a writhing ball around one female, all competing to be her mate. And, the really wild part is that the bigger the ball, the more interested other males become.
Researchers have found that male garter snakes are actually more likely to join in when other males are already courting the female. Basically, if there’s already a crowd, it becomes even more appealing.
The social dynamics of the formation of these mating balls was examined to determine whether the mating balls are formed simply because of a common attraction to the female or whether males are stimulated by the mating balls themselves. A sexually attractive female garter snake appears to be even more attractive to a male when she is being courted by other males than when she is alone. Male garter snakes courted females more actively when other males were also courting the female than when they were alone with her. There is a positive correlation between the number of additional males present and the amount of courtship activity shown by the test male toward the stimulus female.
Is a Snake Ball Dangerous
Now remember when I said it’s no big deal, and you thought yeah right, it’s a snake ball. Totally fair.
But really, no fear. Garter snakes are not dangerous to humans. They are non-venomous to people, though technically they do produce a very mild venom for subduing small prey. It’s harmless to us.
The ball can last anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours. If you leave it alone, it will eventually break up on its own.
So no fire is required.
See the "nope ropes" were so busy they didn't even notice the cameraman here.
Read More: It’s Bald Eagle Hatching Season in Indiana, and You Just Might Spot One
Fun Facts About Garter Snakes
Want a few more fun facts about garter snakes? I got you.
They give birth to live babies
The mother keeps the eggs inside her body until they hatch, then gives birth to live young that are usually about 5 to 9 inches long.
They hibernate in huge groups
In some places, thousands can gather together in dens during winter.
They eat just about anything they can catch
They eat live prey and will dine on snails, earthworms, frogs, leeches, small fish, grasshoppers, and other insects. Occasionally, they will eat small birds and rodents.
They like water and can swim well
You’ll often find them near ponds, creeks, or damp areas.
They can climb
Not their main hobby, but yes, they can climb shrubs and low trees.
They have a built-in stink defense
When threatened, they release a foul-smelling musk. It’s… memorable.
They “smell” with their tongues
Those tongue flicks help them track pheromones and locate prey.
They can grow up to about 2 to 3 feet long
Most stay on the smaller side, but some can reach around 30 inches or a bit more.
Source: Joy JE, Crews D. Social dynamics of group courtship behavior in male red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis). J Comp Psychol. 1985 Jun;99(2):145-9. PMID: 4006433.
Source: National Park Service
Source: Boulder County