How Snakes Keep Warm in the Cold
In How Snakes Keep Warm in the Cold, narrator Sir David Attenborough describes how red-sided garter snakes survive -40°F (40°C) temperatures during winter as they hibernate underground. Watch as 10,000 males slowly wake up and pile on top of each other for warmth. The race is on for the males to find a mate, but one sneaky snake has a trick up his scales — he pretends to be a female to get warmed up by the others! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Life, a show that explores the remarkable strategies animals and plants use to ensure their survival.
Lesson Express
Q: How do red-sided garter snakes use teamwork and competition at the same time?
A: They pile on top of each other to share warmth, which is teamwork, but at the same time, they’re competing to be the first to get warm and find a mate. This shows how animals can work together while still looking out for themselves.
Q: How does the sneaky male snake use scent to trick the other snakes, and why does it do this?
A: The sneaky male gives off a female scent to attract the other males. This trick helps him get warmed up by the pile of snakes, which is important because he’s cold and moving too slowly to compete for a mate otherwise.
Q: How does the sneaky male snake’s trick show the importance of adaptation in nature?
A: The sneaky male’s trick is an example of adaptation because it helps him survive and compete in a tough situation. By pretending to be a female, he uses his environment and instincts to get warm and improve his chances of survival. If he couldn’t do this, he most likely wouldn’t have a chance to pass on his genes, showing how important clever survival strategies are in nature.
More Like This
In Climate Change and Polar Bears, learn how human impacts are causing Canada to warm faster than any country on Earth. Lack of sea ice is now causing major problems for polar bears, and they have had to find a new source of food — beluga whale calves. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.
In Climate Change and Polar Bears, learn how human impacts are causing Canada to warm faster than any country on Earth. Lack of sea ice is now causing major problems for polar bears, and they have had to find a new source of food — beluga whale calves. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.