In the northern areas of their range and at higher elevations, snakes congregate in the fall at crevices in rocky ledges to hibernate for the winter, returning to these places annually. These spots are known as snake dens.
When temperatures begin to warm in May and early June, snakes come out of hibernation. They remain near the den entrance for a few days, sunning themselves, then make their way to where they will spend the summer. They rarely go more than a mile from their dens. Most snakes are secretive in their summer activities, hunting at night and remaining inactive and out of sight for days at a time during the digestive period after eating a squirrel or small rabbit. Consequently, more snakes are seen in the spring and fall migrations to and from their winter homes.