# Watching snakes mate! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 20, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-snakes-mate/246101 "2004-05-20T02:21:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-snakes-mate/246101/1 "2004-05-20T02:21:24Z")
Today I was cleaning out our creek, and I was startled when I turned around and saw a large garter snake on the bank, about two feet from my face (this is rattlesnake country - of course I was startled!) When I stepped back and looked again, I spotted at least six others slithering around nearby. There must have been a nest of them nearby. The first snake I spotted was clearly a female - larger and lighter-colored than the others, but with the same pattern of coloration. So I looked at the snakes for a couple minutes, and one of the males finally slithered right up next to the female and proceeded to get personal. The other males promptly made themselves scarce, and the two lovers got busy. I watched them for a good fifteen minutes (what stamina that boy had!) before they finally dissappeared into the bushes, still going at it. It was fascinating to watch, and it was definitely something you don’t get to see every day without being a herpetologist. But I couldn’t help wondering … how does he, um, “find it”? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-snakes-mate/246101/2 "2004-05-20T12:58:21Z")
Your behavior suggests the Deviant. That’s why I like you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-snakes-mate/246101/3 "2004-05-20T17:50:47Z")
I’m sorry but I can’t read this thread title without hearing George Carlin’s voice saying something like “it’s like watching flies fuck!” I believe it was in relation to the joys of watching golf (and lack thereof). [on topic] Woooo snake sex! [/on topic] ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-snakes-mate/246101/4 "2004-05-20T18:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > … how does he, um, “find it”? Invigorating. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-snakes-mate/246101/5 "2004-05-20T18:19:08Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > The other males promptly made themselves scarce, and the two lovers got busy. Hmmm. Interesting. I once saw a bunch of snakes in a “mating ball.” (I believe that’s the correct terminology) One female with a whole passel o’ males all squirming around her, racing for home, so to speak. It must be a species-specific thing whether other males gracefully bow out or join in the fun. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-snakes-mate/246101/6 "2004-05-20T20:12:21Z")
I recently went to a butterfly exhibit and saw some Monarch Butterflies getting it on. Apparently, they will stay conjoined for hours, and the male will actually fly about with the female attached. All I could think was “Ow”. ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watching-snakes-mate/246101/7 "2004-05-20T20:40:20Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > But I couldn’t help wondering … how does he, um, “find it”? From what I’ve seen, a lot of it appears to be based upon scent. I’ve seen it happen with other snakes, but one of our housesnake males really gives a female the old “smell down” before he gets busy. He’ll climb on the female’s back, usually starting at her head, and then work his way down, pausing every few seconds for a test smell. By the time he reaches the cloaca, he appears to get an “all systems go!” and gets busy. I figure with two penises, he has an advantage of finding it eventually, eh? 😛