With which types of snakes might the Western Rat Snake share communal dens for overwintering?
Answer
Copperheads and timber rattlesnakes
A critical aspect of the Western Rat Snake's overwintering strategy involves utilizing secure, subterranean retreats, often leading to cohabitation with other species. These snakes seek out deep underground crevices or burrows, frequently found on wooded hillsides, for hibernation. Importantly, these communal dens are often shared spaces utilized by venomous species endemic to the same regions, including the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. This shared use of limited secure overwintering sites is a known ecological interaction within the species' habitat preference.
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