In a sense, most snakes do go into a state of hibernation, but it is called “brumation” when you're talking about these slithering serpents. That's because it isn’t exactly the same process as a bear hibernating, for example, but a similar one.
In colder temperatures, such as during winter, snakes would soon run into difficulty because they are cold-blooded animals and they don't have a way to regulate their own body temperature. If cold weather happens very suddenly and without warning, it is not unusual for snakes to get caught unawares, so to speak, and essentially freeze to death out in the cold. Many of them know that the colder days are coming, of course, and that's why they slither into their dens to go into this state of brumation. It is what helps them to stay alive. If they didn't do this, it wouldn't take long for them to die during the winter.
When snakes go into this state of ‘hibernation’ they slow their metabolism right down. This means that they can survive without food during this period of prolonged sleep, but if the temperature warms up enough that food may just be running, scampering, or hopping around, the snake will warm up to snap up the opportunity. (Excuse the pun.) All the while it’s too cold for them, they’ll be sleeping in dens, and this can be in human basements if the opportunity arises. Snakes prefer more “wild” spaces, of course, such as tree hollows and stumps, new and growing trees, in fallen logs, caves, and other similar, dark and secluded spots, but will venture into human territories if needed.
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