Warning to Aussies after woman’s ‘very common’ garden find: ‘Never touch’

Authorities have reminded the public never to touch reptile eggs if they encounter them in the wild, as the hatchlings they contain can easily “drown” if handled improperly.

With the typical mating season for reptiles in Australia – including lizards and snakes – running from September to December to mark the start of warmer weather, officials have told residents across the country to be mindful of, but not disturb, our native wildlife .

This comes after a West Australian woman took to social media on Thursday after finding two tiny lizard eggs in her “mother’s” garden. She asked a community group what species they were from and posted a photo of the two miniature eggs in her palm.

The post sparked hundreds of interactions, with many believing it came from a gecko lizard. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Australian Reptile Park park manager Billy Collett agreed.

Reptile expert urges Aussies to leave eggs alone if discovered

He said sights like this are common this time of year because the reptiles’ mating coincides with warmer weather in spring and early summer

“These are definitely lizard eggs and you see them a lot this time of year. They’re probably close to hatching,” he told Yahoo.

“Reptile eggs should not be rolled as the movement could cause the developing hatchling in the egg to drown. That’s why it’s important not to touch any eggs you find.”

Lizard eggs in Australia vary considerably depending on the species. Most lizards are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs, although some, such as B. Blue-tongued skinks, are viviparous and give birth to live young. Lizard eggs are usually soft and leathery, allowing them to absorb moisture from the environment during incubation.

Clutch sizes can vary significantly depending on the species. For example, geckos generally lay one to two eggs per clutch, while larger species such as dragons can lay more than 20 eggs.

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