Hibernaculum

 Hibernaculum is defined here in the context of snakes.  There are other definitions.

A hibernaculum is a den in which snakes will gather to over-winter. Most species of snakes found in Connecticut use hibernacula during the winter for two purposes: 1) they cannot generally endure direct exposure to the elementss, and 2) food sources are considerably more scarce and difficult capture during that season.

Description

Typically, hibernacula are found in very rocky habitats where snakes can find crevices that lead to larger sub-terranean dens which offer protection from the cold temperatures and snow. Although the crevice entrances to hibernacula may oftentimes be very small and inconspicuous, they are known to lead to larger underground dens.

During warmer months of the year, all species of snake depart from their hibernacula to actively forage and sun themselves. Therefore, hibernacula are generally not inhabited from mid-Spring to mid-Autumn.

Species Diversity

In most cases, a single hibernaculum may be utilized by a variety of snake species with both venomous and non-venomous types intermixed.

Locations in Connecticut

Because hibernacula are sub-terranean dens, and because the entrances to most hibernacula are rather inconspicuous, it is difficult to pinpoint the location of a hibernaculum. More often, hibernacula are inferred by a high population of snakes in a given area. Many species of snake do not travel particularly far from their hibernaculum, so wherever the population of snakes is unusually high, there is likley to be a hibernaculum nearby.