Finding snake eggs can be scary for many people. You might be walking in the woods, working in your garden, or just looking around your yard when you see them. It is important to know what to do in this situation.
If you find snake eggs, the best thing to do is leave them alone. Most of the time, they are best left right where the mother snake placed them. Moving the eggs can harm the babies inside. Only in rare cases (like if the eggs are in danger) should you consider calling a wildlife expert.
Let’s take a closer look at how to identify snake eggs, what types of snakes lay them, and how to handle the situation safely if you ever come across some.
What Snake Eggs Look Like
Snake eggs aren’t hard like bird eggs. If you’ve ever found a bird’s nest before, you’ll notice that bird eggs are usually shiny, smooth, and fragile. Snake eggs are different.
Snake eggs are soft and leathery, with a dull, flexible surface.
They often look like small, stretched-out ping-pong balls. Most are off-white, pale yellow, or cream in color.
They’re usually oval-shaped and about 1 to 3 inches long, depending on the species.
You might find them tucked away in a hidden spot, like under logs, buried in mulch or leaves, or hidden in compost piles.
Snakes choose warm, damp, and protected places to lay their eggs.
If you find eggs just sitting out in the open, they are probably not snake eggs. Snake eggs are usually well hidden.
Types of Snakes and Their Eggs
Some snakes lay eggs, but not all. In fact, many common snakes don’t lay eggs at all.
Instead, they give birth to live young. Here’s what you need to know about a few common species:
Rat Snakes
These snakes are good climbers and are often found in wooded areas. Rat snakes lay eggs, usually 10 to 30 at a time.
They like to tuck them away in quiet, safe places (like under logs or inside hollow trees).
Garter Snakes
Garter snakes are some of the most common snakes people see in their yards. But unlike rat snakes, garter snakes don’t lay eggs.
They give birth to live babies, so if you see eggs near where you spotted a garter snake, the eggs belong to something else.
Copperheads
Copperheads are venomous, and people often worry about finding their eggs. But here’s the good news: copperheads don’t lay eggs either.
Like garter snakes, they give birth to live young.
That means if you find a batch of eggs in an area where copperheads live, you don’t need to assume they’re from a venomous snake.
Knowing which snakes lay eggs (and which don’t) can help you figure out what you’ve found.
It also helps to know which snakes are protected by law. In some areas, it’s illegal to disturb snake eggs or the snakes themselves.
What to Do When You Find Snake Eggs
If you find snake eggs, do not panic. Take a deep breath and think carefully about what to do next. Here are the steps you should follow.
Leave Them Alone
The best thing you can do in most situations is simply leave the eggs alone. Snakes have been laying eggs and hatching babies for millions of years. They don’t need help from humans.
Moving the eggs can be risky. It’s easy to harm the growing snakes inside. Even small changes in temperature or position can be fatal.
As long as the eggs are in a safe spot (like tucked away in a pile of leaves or under a log) it’s best to leave them just as they are.
Protect the Area
If the eggs are in a spot that’s likely to be disturbed (maybe in your garden or near a path) you can take a few small steps to keep them safe.
Try to avoid mowing, digging, or doing yard work around them. Keep pets and children away from the area. If needed, you can mark the spot with a small barrier to help people avoid it.
Just be careful not to draw too much attention to the eggs. Some people may not treat them kindly if they notice them.
Call a Wildlife Expert
If you’re unsure what to do, or if the eggs are in a place where they’re likely to be destroyed, it’s okay to ask for help.
You can contact your local wildlife department or animal control. They may be able to identify the eggs and tell you if it’s legal (or safe) to move them.
In some areas, certain snake species are protected, and moving or handling their eggs can be against the law.
You can also reach out to a local herpetologist (a reptile expert). They may be able to guide you or, in some cases, even relocate the eggs properly.
When You Might Need to Move the Eggs
There are a few situations where snake eggs may be in real danger.
If construction is happening, if they’re in a high-traffic area, or if predators are disturbing the nest, moving them might be the best option.
But be cautious. Before you move any eggs, make sure it’s legal in your area. In some places, touching or relocating wild reptile eggs is not allowed.
If it is legal and necessary to move the eggs, here’s how to do it as safely as possible:
- Wear gloves. This helps protect the eggs from germs and keeps you safe too.
- Don’t flip the eggs. Baby snakes can attach to the inside of the shell. Turning an egg upside down can kill the snake inside.
- Keep them in the same position. Carefully move each egg in the exact position it was found.
- Choose a similar spot. Look for a safe, warm, and hidden place nearby with similar moisture and cover.
- Handle gently and as little as possible. Too much touching or movement can do more harm than good.
Avoid trying to hatch them yourself. Snake eggs need very specific conditions that are hard to create at home.
Trying to incubate them yourself often leads to failure, and it’s better to leave that job to nature (or experts).
What Not to Do
It’s easy to make mistakes when you come across snake eggs. Here are a few things you should never do:
- Don’t try to break open or “check” the eggs.
- Don’t keep the eggs as pets.
- Don’t throw the eggs away.
- Don’t shake or roll them around.
- Don’t try to hatch them unless you’re a trained expert.
These actions can harm or kill the baby snakes inside. In many places, they may also be illegal.
Conclusion
If you find snake eggs, take a moment to pause before you act. In most cases, the best thing to do is nothing. Let nature take its course.
If the eggs are in real danger, check your local laws and reach out to a wildlife expert. Never try to hatch or raise snake eggs on your own.
The more you learn about snakes, the easier it becomes to respect them, and even admire them.
Every time you choose to protect wildlife, no matter how small, you help support the balance of nature around you.
And who knows? You might even get to witness a clutch of baby snakes hatching and slithering off into the world.
Featured image by: Jean-Marc Vallières CC BY-NC 4.0)
Hi, my name is Ezra Mushala, i have been interested animals all my life. I am the main author and editor here at snakeinformer.com.