Why do wild snakes gather in groups sometimes?.

[Eupterus]

Hope this is OK if it's not about captive snakes.
While on a backpacking trip, I crossed a patch of open meadow and found at least eight snakes gathering together. They were off trail either curled up on rocks or slithering around in the tall grass. They seemed attracted to each other and stayed mostly in two groups. I have no idea what species they were, another backpacker said rat snake . They were mostly black with yellow bellies.
I looked it up on google and didn't find any information on snake gathering.
Were they having some kind of mating ritual or just keeping warm?.
I have never seen social groups of snakes before. Only time I've heard of snakes gathering together is to hibernate and since it's the midst of summer, I assume they were not hibernating here.
I was telling other backpackers I found a snake orgy.

 

[pythonloose]

they could be garter snakes, bunch of males trying to mate with the female

 

[Toby_H]

Being cold blooded animals it is mostly likely a means of keeping warm…

It is also possible they were sunning themselves on the trail or on rocks and when you walked by went to the same secure area to hide…

Although I appreciate you desire to know the truth behind it, I suggest you continue telling people it was a snake orgy ;-)

When I was a kid my father and I used to go garter snake hunting. We put small pieces of plywood out near the forests edge and would slowly approach the boards, lift them and find snakes in groups under the boards. I believe both of the reasons I mentioned above to be why they hide together… I wish I had thought of the snake orgy explanation though

 

[Noto]

At this time of year a gathering like that probably was an orgy. Male snakes will track a female's pheremones; often several approach around the same time and will battle for her.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Yeah sounds like you came across a garter snake "breeding ball".

 

[gigas12]

Hi,yes I agree with V F.