On late autumn days, you may still see turtles and snakes sunning on warm rocks or grass, taking advantage of the lingering warmth. But when temperatures drop consistently below freezing, what do reptiles do?
They brumate! Brumation is a state of dormancy similar to hibernation. Both are states of reduced metabolic activity. But unlike a hibernating mammal, a brumating reptile or amphibian may wake from time to time, bask, and drink water.
Because reptiles can’t regulate their own temperature (ectothermic), they seek out hollow logs, mammal burrows, caves or other sheltered spots to brumate. For aquatic reptiles that is often the mud at the bottom of ponds.
Pond turtles, like the eastern painted turtle, have an especially fascinating strategy for winter survival. In order to avoid acidosis – the life-threatening buildup of lactic acid due to metabolizing in low-oxygen environments – they use their shell! Made of alkaline carbonates, they release these buffering compounds from their shell and bones into their blood to counteract acid buildup.
During the long, cold winter, it can be comforting to picture turtles or frogs tucked into pond mud, or snakes coiled up together in a hibernaculum, brumating the days away.
Snapping turtle emerging from brumation.
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