Grass Snake Eggs?

[jaybie]

I came across these today which I think are Grass Snake eggs scattered around a pile of wood chippings. Quite a few were stuck together but there also lots of single cases scattered about. All empty and quite leathery to the touch.



It looks like something has been digging in the pile so wondered if these are eggs when would they have hatched or is there possibly some predation here?



Many thanks, JohnB

[Dogghound]

They are grass snake eggs, however I am struggling the make out much of the detail in how they have been opened. It is possible (an likely in my opinion) that they have just hatched, usually when predated by mammals they are either eaten whole, or torn apart. The digging looks like the work of rats or rabbits.

[jaybie]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

They are grass snake eggs, however I am struggling the make out much of the detail in how they have been opened. It is possible (an likely in my opinion) that they have just hatched, usually when predated by mammals they are either eaten whole, or torn apart. The digging looks like the work of rats or rabbits.

The openings were like splits in the casing, certainly not torn apart. It was the way they were scattered that got me wondering, probably just the result of whatever was digging.

Thanks, JohnB

[Stapey]

Is the picture from how you found them or were they rearranged? The photo is normal for them to be laid in clumps of scattered a bit and be on there own. I can see some spilts, these look like normal hatchling splits but I can't see many? It looks like the eggs lacked moisture and collapsed in on themselves after being laid so its hard to tell.

Nice size clutch though!