Camouflage
Snakes have a variety of colors, which sometimes allows them to blend into a many backgrounds. However, some poisonous snakes have bright colors that help them stand out so other animals see them immediately. Snakes that hibernate benefit from camouflage, which allows them to hide from predators.
Extreme Climates
Snakes can live in a broad range of environments, even in the Arctic Circle and in the high mountains. Snakes in cold environments are dark-colored since bright colors reflect sunlight. The snakes hibernate during the winter, living off body fat. Desert snakes conserve water very well. However, during very dry periods, desert snakes need to hibernate and live off stored fat.
Activity
Some snakes, such as garter snakes, do not eat anything for the majority of the year during hibernation. The garter snakes create dens they hide in until hibernation season passes. Prior to hibernation, they spend much time near the den. They also spend time in the den during cloudy or cold days. Snakes change their activity depending on the weather. For example, ribbon snakes are normally active all day and night. However, they become nocturnal during very hot months.
Breeding
Given that some snakes, such as corn snakes, spend so much time in hibernation, they usually breed as soon as they come out of hibernation. Male snakes tend to leave hibernation before female snakes.
Dens
Snakes usually hibernate in narrow spaces. The ribbon snake hibernates in rocky crevices, crayfish tunnels, ant mounds and the burrows of the various small mammals, such as muskrats. Snakes usually prefer to make their dens in cool and damp places where they can easily find food. However, some snakes live in trees or in water. Some snakes will make their dens in human structures if they can find a hiding place, especially if the structure has insects or rodents inside. They will make dens in garbage, woodpiles and junkyards.
Some snakes will share their dens with other snake species. For example, ribbon snakes, garter snakes, green snakes, red bellied snakes and American water snakes all share dens.