The Largest Gathering of Snakes in the World Begins Annual 'Mating Ball' Ritual, And the Natural Event Is Open to the Public

Manitoba, Canada, is home to the world's largest snake pits, which hold tens of thousands of non-venomous red-sided garter snakes. The snakes hibernate in limestone crevasses during winter and emerge for their mating season, which lasts around 1 to 3 weeks. Visitors to the Narcisse Snake Dens can observe the snakes' mating ritual, where thousands of male garter snakes form "mating balls" around a single female. The area is part of a wildlife management area open to the public, offering observation platforms to view the snakes.