What is a Group of Snakes Called: All the Terms Explained

List of all the terms explaining what is a group of snakes called including various species and how to get rid of them
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Phyllis McMahon
Phyllis McMahon
Research Writer
Phyllis teaches English Literature at a local college and loves writing in her free time. She’s also a great cook – her British beef Wellington is something the best res read more
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Chas Kempf
Chas Kempf
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Last updated: September 08, 2023
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There’s a pretty good chance you’ve seen snakes move in groups and probably wondered why these naturally solitary reptiles were socializing. The reason is simple: Snakes are cold-blooded animals and need warmth to survive. Staying together is their way of generating heat for one another to stay warm.

Moreover, you probably know a group of wolves to be a pack, a group of bees to be a swarm, but can’t answer this curious question; “what is a group of snakes called?” There’s no one answer to this question. You can use various names to describe a group of snakes, but there are common ones that we will discuss in this article.

Keep reading to learn the name for a group of snakes and other related information.

Name for a Group of Snakes

As we mentioned earlier, people use different names to describe a group of snakes. We will explain the common names below:

Bunch

What is a Group of Snakes Called: All the Terms Explained

What is a large group of snakes called? A bunch of snakes. What is a bunch of snakes called? Still a bunch of snakes. This group is usually a large assembly of snakes of various species of snakes. And they are bundled together in an often scary manner. A bunch of snakes stays and moves together with the sole aim of consuming heat from one another.

However, some species, such as Cuban Boas, sometimes stay in a bunch  to hunt prey Trusted Source Wait, what? Scientists discover snakes that hunt in packs | CNN Get ready to update your nightmares. edition.cnn.com , according to researchers at the University of Tennessee. So, when next you see a bunch of snakes, know that they might be looking for more than warmth. If you think you might be exposed to them, buy a pair from the best snake gaiters to protect yourself.

Bed

Bed is another name you can use to describe a group of snakes. A bed of snakes typically builds nests where they stay together to benefit from their combined warmth. Some species, including  pine snakes Trusted Source Northern pine snake | Smithsonian's National Zoo The northern pine snake is a powerful, nonvenomous constrictor found in North America. With a maximum length of 6 feet, it is one of the largest snakes on the continent. nationalzoo.si.edu , are especially known for digging their nests. When a group of these snakes stays in such nests, they are called a bed of snakes.

Den

Think of a den of lions but imagine that there are only snakes in it; no lions. That’s how a den of snakes looks. Due to snakes’ cold-blooded nature, they leave temperate climates in the wintertime for dens in warm places. These snakes don’t want to freeze in cold temperatures. So, a den is often their next resort during winter. This den often consists of dozens to hundreds of snakes.

Family

You’ve probably asked yourself this question; “what is a group of baby snakes called?” They are called a family of snakes. This collective noun for snakes shows how much parents care about their children. Baby snakes often have parents who look after them in the family, protecting them from harm.

Is It Normal for Snakes to Make a Group?

Indeed, snakes are mostly solitary animals, but many species gather together in the same location during cold weather to stay warm. They do this because they risk freezing due to their cold-blooded nature. Besides the aim of staying alive, snakes make a group for other reasons. As we mentioned earlier, some species stay in groups to hunt their prey.

Also, some snakes make a group to mate. Female snakes typically release a hormone known as “pheromone,” which attracts male snakes. Consequently, the male snakes surround the female in a mating ball. Therefore, it is normal for snakes to make a group.

Garter snakes

What is a Group of Snakes Called: All the Terms Explained

Garter snakes might be cold-blooded, but they are not cold-hearted as you may have thought. Researchers have observed  this specie of snakes hanging out together Trusted Source Garter snakes are surprisingly social, forming ‘friendships' with fellow serpents | Science | AAAS Snakes should be good at social distancing, at least according to what we know about reptiles: Most are solitary creatures that come together to mate and hibernate, but not much else. Not so garter snakes, the harmless serpents that live throughout North America and part of Central America. Researchers have discovered that garter snakes not only prefer to hang out together, but also seem to have “friends” with whom they spend much of their time. www.science.org  and making “friends” with whom they spend plenty of time. So, what is a group of garter snakes called? You can call them a bunch or family of snakes.

Sea snakes

What is a Group of Snakes Called: All the Terms Explained

While most snakes live primarily on land, some snakes live in marine environments for most—if not all—of their lives. These are sea snakes. They shelter in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Although they are highly venomous, their shy nature makes them a low threat to humans.

Notably, sea snakes often stay alone, but some species hunt in groups. Finally, what is a group of sea snakes called? A family.

Baby snakes

What is a Group of Snakes Called: All the Terms Explained

An average mother snake does not leave her babies after giving birth to them, although venomous snakes are not so good at parenting. When you see baby snakes in a group, know that they are a family protected by their parents.

Can You Get Rid of Snake Groups?

Earth currently has more than 3,000 species of snakes roaming the planet, with about 600 of them venomous.

Among the 600 venomous species, 200 can kill Trusted Source Snakes Nonvenomous snakes, which range from harmless garter snakes to the not-so-harmless python, dispatch their victims by swallowing them alive or constricting them to death. Whether they kill by striking with venom or squeezing, nearly all snakes eat their food whole, in sometimes astoundingly large portions. www.nationalgeographic.com or significantly wound humans, according to National Geographic. Therefore, having such species around you is not a good thing.

Thankfully, you can get rid of snake groups with the right tools. You can push them away with a high-quality repellent like the Snake Out Snake Repellent, which uses natural ingredients to repel dangerous snakes near living areas. Rest assured, this product poses no threats to pets or children.

Alternatively, you can opt for the Ortho Snake-B-Gon repellent, which has impressed many users. It uses a scent that is only toxic to snakes to deter them from coming near anywhere you apply the formula.

If you want to do more than repel venomous snakes, use a trap to catch and kill those that may be loitering near your property. According to several reviews, the Cahaba Snake Trap is quite helpful, so you should consider it. It uses replaceable gum inserts to trap snakes, including large ones.

If you want more ways to keep snakes away from your environment, our guide on how to get rid of snakes is a perfect help.

Final Thoughts

If you had doubts about snakes staying in groups, they must have disappeared now. It’s normal for them to stick together in specific situations. Snakes stay and move in groups for survival, hunting, and mating. So, if you see snakes in groups, they must be doing one of those things.

Moreover, there are multiple names used for snakes in a group. The most common names are a bunch, den, bed, and family. So, to answer the question, “what is a group of snakes called?” A snake group name depends on their specie and behavior, according to what we’ve explained in this guide.

References

1.
Wait, what? Scientists discover snakes that hunt in packs | CNN
Get ready to update your nightmares.
2.
Northern pine snake | Smithsonian
The northern pine snake is a powerful, nonvenomous constrictor found in North America. With a maximum length of 6 feet, it is one of the largest snakes on the continent.
3.
Garter snakes are surprisingly social, forming ‘friendships
Snakes should be good at social distancing, at least according to what we know about reptiles: Most are solitary creatures that come together to mate and hibernate, but not much else. Not so garter snakes, the harmless serpents that live throughout North America and part of Central America. Researchers have discovered that garter snakes not only prefer to hang out together, but also seem to have “friends" with whom they spend much of their time.
4.
Snakes
Nonvenomous snakes, which range from harmless garter snakes to the not-so-harmless python, dispatch their victims by swallowing them alive or constricting them to death. Whether they kill by striking with venom or squeezing, nearly all snakes eat their food whole, in sometimes astoundingly large portions.
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