While all snakes do it a bit differently, most snake mating begins with a female emerging from hibernation and sending out pheromones to let any potential suitors know she’s good to go. How the males respond depends on the species. If two male vipers approach a lady snake in heat they will square off in a sort of snake thumb war, with each male attempting to win by using their chin to push the other’s head down.

Some species, such as garters, green anacondas, and the aforementioned Florida water snakes, skip the duels and just pile on top of each other. These snake orgies are referred to as mating or breeding balls, and typically feature one female snake in the middle with the males swarming her to try and copulate. Mating doesn’t commence until the female snake gives the go ahead by opening her cloaca (an all purpose mating and excretion orifice), which can take under an hour, or last up to an entire day.

This process sounds fairly utilitarian when broken down into scientific terms, but for the snakes themselves the urge to mate is exhilarating. A 2017 study by the University of Sydney found that male red-sided garter snakes have a lower life expectancy than their female counterparts because their bodies are worn down by the rigors of mating. For the sake of Lakeland residents, let’s hope the Florida water snakes by Lake Hollingsworth know when to give it a rest.