Of Snakes and Turtles Underground

Snakes, turtles, and tortoises are all reptiles, and as such, are partially dependent upon their surroundings to maintain their body temperature. Because Missouri caves average about 54 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit, deep passages within caves are not good places for most reptiles to be. The cool temperatures, complicated by the usually wet conditions, will often cause the hapless reptile to become sluggish, quit eating, and quite literally starve to death while in the torpid state, if not removed from the cave. Most reptiles in caves have fallen or been washed in, making their chances of getting out of the cave alive very slim indeed.

This is not true, of course, of sunny cave entrances, shelter caves, or shallow, dry, cliff face caves. These locations are very attractive to sunning snakes and tortoises, since the rock, once warmed by the sun, will maintain its heat for a longer time than the ground.

Some sinkholes, with a sunny extent on the floor, are practically a snake paradise, as they can live there for years, just waiting for small mammals to drop in for lunch. Copperheads (poisonous) and black snakes are common cave entrance residents, so Be Careful!

2003 Jo Schaper.