An Eggxtraordinary Day
Nick Massimo, MS - July 2023
My job takes me to some really special places. I get to spend time outdoors exploring areas that perhaps, no other person has ever visited, and for good reason. The terrain is often hot, extreme and unforgiving on the best of days.
As a herpetologist I’ve focused most of my 14+ year career working in the Sonoran Desert. I’ve been extremely fortunate to study some of the most secretive, misunderstood creatures on the planet, reptiles and amphibians.
On this particular day, I was called to a scene in Waddell, Arizona where a large snake was found living in a hole next to a chicken coop. I was initially asked to relocate snake without knowing what species was present.
After arriving, I was able to spot a portion of the snake’s body near the entrance of the burrow. A large coil was barely visible, but a few important characteristics were present. Scale type, coloration and patterning all indicated the culprit was a Sonoran Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer).
Now, that an identification has been made, I needed to try and figure out how to get the snake out of its burrow. If water is detected, snakes may come out from a burrow or shelter. This trick works extra well in arid environments like the desert. Unfortunately, this snake wanted nothing to do with me or the small amount of water I poured near the entrance of the burrow.
Because the snake was visible, I tried reaching in to grab the snake with my hand. The hole was a tight squeeze, so I was only able to get fingertips on the snake before it retreated back slightly.
At this point I could feel the snake but not see it so I decided to open up the entrance a little bit. Again, I could see the snake, but not get a good hold of it. A little more excavation, and the cycle repeats.
From above the ground, I could tell there was likely a rodent burrow leading in one direction. I tried to get ahead of the gopher snake so that I could stop it from retreating further. Carefully, I started to take dig into the earth waiting for the tunnel to open up. Little did I know, I was about to make a discovery that would make this one of the most memorable days of my career.
After digging down a few inches, the earth began to collapse and a small void appeared. I could see the snake, and something else that took my breath away. To the right lie the snake, and to the left was a small, white orb-like structure. I quickly turned my attention back to the snake which was no longer visible. I thought for sure I had both sides of the tunnel blocked, but by now, she had retreated down a tunnel passageway that I was unaware of.
As I looked back to the left I was able to get a better look at the round, creamy white structure barely visible in the dirt. I gently brushed some dirt away and a second, round orb became visible. As the entirety of the first orb became visible, it was about the size of a chicken egg, only the shell was soft. In that moment, I knew I was looking at a clutch of snake eggs! A few more gentle brushes and the rest of a small chamber became visible. As I shone my flashlight in, I counted a total of snake 12 eggs.
Seeing this, I stopped and decided to have a little chat with the property owner. I needed to explain something very important. In Arizona, the only venomous snake that lays a clutch of eggs would be the Sonoran Coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus). The eggs that we found were much too large to be from that species. Arizona is also home to 13 species of rattlesnakes, all of which are venomous. Some assume rattlesnakes reproduce by laying eggs, but rattlesnakes give birth to live young.
If you couldn’t tell by now, I’m a bit of a snake nerd, and at this point, I was really nerding out. By understanding how different species of snakes reproduce, I was able to explain the eggs we found had to be from a nonvenomous snake. Based on the size, most likely from a Gophersnake or Kingsnake. In my professional opinion, I encourage people to leave nonvenomous snakes on their property whenever possible, let me explain why.
If a snake is found on your property, it’s likely found a source of food, water and/or shelter. If the snake(s) is not there taking advantage of one of those resources, it’s most likely just passing through and you just so happened to stumble upon the snake. Removing a nonvenomous snake doesn’t address the issues that may make your property attractive from the viewpoint of a snake, food, water and/or shelter. Leaving nonvenomous snakes in place, makes it harder for a venomous snake to become established in your area, especially if it’s a species such as a Kingsnake (Lampropeltis spp.).
Taking the extra time to explain the benefits Gophersnakes and Kingsnakes provide, I was able to convince the property owner that we should leave the eggs and mama snake (most likely) in place. Initially, I was expecting to have to relocate one snake which can be challenging. The best conservation research shows, in general, if a snake is moved more than 0.25 miles from where it’s found, there’s a very high likelihood it will die. After finding one adult snake and 12 eggs, I couldn’t imagine a better ending to this story. Anyone who’s ever had experience working in the conservation field knows it can be hard. These are the days that give you the warm fuzzy feeling to keep pushing through the hard times.
One of the most effective tools for wildlife conservation is education, this is especially true for snakes, other reptiles, and amphibians. Snake Guru strives to spark wildlife conservation and stewardship in the community. I think this story goes to show how a little time and education made all the difference for this mama Gophersnake and her babies hatching in early August 2023.
