Red-Sided Garter Snake

Red-sided garter snakes of Manitoba survive winters primarily through behavioral avoidance—aggregating in huge numbers in underground limestone dens below the frost line. But they also possess limited freeze tolerance as backup, surviving brief exposure to freezing temperatures when caught outside shelter. This belt-and-suspenders approach combines active avoidance with passive tolerance.

The snake's famous den aggregations—up to 75,000 individuals in a single den—demonstrate how behavioral strategies can substitute for physiological capability. By finding appropriate shelter, snakes avoid needing the extreme freeze tolerance of wood frogs. The physiological backup exists for emergencies when behavioral solutions fail.

For business strategy, garter snakes illustrate how organizations can combine active risk avoidance with passive risk tolerance. Companies that primarily avoid risks through market selection, diversification, or hedging—but maintain reserve capability to tolerate risks that slip through—follow this pattern. The first line of defense is behavioral; the second line is physiological.

The mass aggregation also demonstrates collective survival strategies. Individual snakes might not find optimal dens alone; collective knowledge and following behavior guides individuals to proven shelter. Organizations similarly benefit from industry associations, information sharing, and collective action that helps individual members find refuge during hostile conditions.