So beside the driveway, near the garden yesterday, were four snakes. They were hanging out together. Good sized snakes, 1 1/2 to 2 feet long each. Two were the grey mottled type snakes that I’ve seen before, I think they are “bull snakes”, kinda like big garter snakes. The other two were black with lines down them, haven’t seen them before. I don’t know what these guys were doing, other than just sunning themselves. But I thought it was odd. They didn’t seem to be mating with each other, just all hanging out together. We see a few snakes during the summer months, but not often, and have never seen these black ones with the stripes before. We don’t have rattle snakes here, too cold in winter (a good thing). Does anyone know snakes here?
I’m very far from your area, but garter snakes can have lined coloration. Also, out east, we have ribbon snakes that are dark with yellowish lines running from head to tail- they are the same genus as garter snakes.
Certain snakes can be somewhat social. Often there will be a communal, sometimes multi-species den where they gather to stay warm, especially over winter. My guess is you probably have one nearby.
I had a gaggle of snakes last summer…hmm what is a group of snakes called?
I honestly think they were siblings. They all appeared small and stayed together all summer. Now there is one big snake in the same area…maybe going to lay eggs? Or maybe one of the little ones grown up?
I’m inclined to think they were sunning themselves. Unless you live in an area that has dangerous snakes, they are good additions to the farm for rodent control. Every few years snakes set up shop under my barn floor and they clear out the mice. It seems to take a few years for the mice to move back in. I don’t have any barn cats so I rely on the wildlife to control the rodent population. Has been working well for 10+ years in my tiny barn.
Yes I think that is what they were doing. I was just kinda stunned to see FOUR, all together, two different types. I like them, I say “hello there” when I see one. Or FOUR!!!
A nest, a den, a slither.
Compost? 
This is one reason I DO keep a lot of barn cats - the fewer rodents, the less likely snakes are to hang around. At least, that is what I tell myself.
You know, they could’ve been making baby snakes. Were they smoking little cigarettes?
Those are garter snakes. They are one of the few snake species that like to hang out together. Completely harmless.
Lol, I think they were just sunbathing. I didn’t see any other “action”!
I have found two shed snake skins in my barn this month. The first find dropped down from the barn rafters, appears to be from a black rat snake, and measures 4’6" long. The next I discovered today behind the sliding barn door - it measured 6’1" long, also looks like a black rat snake. Lord, I hope I don’t meet up with the snake(s) in person. But this may be why I’ve not seen barn mice and bird nests recently.
Bit is for reference. Mat seams are 4 feet apart. I am wondering if these are from the same snake or if I have two sharing the barn with the horses and me.
Those guys make mine look like midgets!!!
