In Manitoba’s Rural Municipality of Armstrong lies the Narcisse Snake Dens, home to roughly 100,000 red-sided garter snakes during winter. These snakes spend the cold months underground in limestone caves, where temperatures never drop below freezing. On the surface, winter can feel harsh at -30°C, but inside the dens, the snakes cluster tightly for warmth, waiting for five to six months. The snakes start arriving in late September or early October. This winter shelter allows them to survive the cold because snakes rely on outside heat for their metabolism and shut down during freezing weather. When spring arrives, males emerge first, even with snow still on the ground, gathering near den entrances. Female snakes release special scents called pheromones to attract males. Many males follow these signals, creating what is called a "mating ball" - a writhing mass of snakes competing to mate. Males rub their chins on female snakes to mate, using their special organs called hemipenes. After mating, they leave behind a gel plug that lowers the chances of other males mating with the same female. These red-sided garter snakes are non-venomous and usually harmless but can be bold if trapped. They grow three to four feet long, with olive-brown to nearly black bodies featuring bright yellow stripes and red bars on their sides. They live near ponds, marshes, and slow water, feeding on amphibians, worms, and small rodents. After mating season, snakes spread out to nearby marshlands for the summer months. This incredible natural spectacle of 100,000 snakes gathering annually is believed to be the largest anywhere in the world.