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A small animal burrow provides access
to an underground opening in the
bedrock near Georgian Bay.
Hibernation sites are found within different habitats throughout the four regions where
massasauga still occur in Ontario.
 

Trees may indicate a fissure in the
underlying bedrock around Georgian Bay.
These openings may provide a suitable
hibernaculum (over-wintering den)
in local areas.
 

For over-wintering, the massasauga may use
crayfish burrows, such as this one, as well as
mammal burrows, rock fissures, and other
openings which extend below the frost line.

The massasauga will bask near the hibernaculum until daily temperatures become
too cold to warrant continued exposure, usually late October to early November. At
that time, the snake will settle within the hibernaculum until consistently warm days
occur again in April. Though the snake is cold, it can move further down into the den
as the winter frost sinks lower into the ground.

Deep snow over the hibernaculum provides additional protection from the frost.
Although some species of snakes hibernate communally (two or more snakes per
hibernaculum), massasaugas usually prefer a solitary hibernation.

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