Our reptilian nursery is slithering with excitement. Labor day weekend during an El Nino years proved to be a fertile combination resulting in the birth of thirty-seven baby Northern Water Snakes. On Sunday morning, September 5th, we discovered the Medusa looking swarm of four-inch baby snakes writhing about in the main exhibit building Northern Water Snake display.

Why would an animal have so many offspring? Low survival rate of the baby snake due to predation is the most likely answer. The four-inch plump youngsters are for the most part defenseless and make a tasty morsel for a number of predators. With fish, birds, raccoons, otters, turtles, and other snakes being just a few of their natural enemies means that danger comes from every direction when you are a newborn water snake. Mama snake is of no help in protecting her young ones. Her maternal duties are over once she gives birth (as is the case for most reptiles whether they are viviparous (live bearing) or ovaviporous (egg lying). After about a two-month gestation, the baby snakes are pushed out of the anal vent one at a time. Each newborn snake most breaks out of a thin, transparent membranous sack before it enters the world of predation and danger on its own. If two or three snakes survive until adulthood, it will have been a successful litter. We will keep a couple of the baby water snakes as nature lab residents and will release the rest in appropriate habitats while it is still warm outside.

In addition, several ovaviporous reptiles have recently emerged from their leathery eggs in our incubator. As of September 8th, we have hatched eight fence lizards, seven black racers, and ten snapping turtles. They may not be fuzzy and cuddly as some baby animals but they are somewhat cute and I am always amazed how they instinctively know how to survive on their own. Some of our neonatal reptilians are on display in the nature lab so please come visit soon and bring a cigar to celebrate!