Eggs
Posted by Jeanine Garofalo on September 25, 2006
Q: Hi I have found multiple nesting spots in my mulch that contain 2 to 3 egg like objects. They are oblong and they have a gelatin outer coating. There are turtles in my neighbors pond, HUGE turtles and I have seen one little one across my front yard. Can u help to identify?
Thank you.
State: New York
A: Reptile egg shells should be dry and leathery and easily dented. I think what you've got in your mulch are fungi just beginning to produce mushrooms (the fruiting body of the fungus). Some mushrooms start out with a gelatinous coating and look rather strange - not what we expect.
Since the emergence of a mushroom usually happens very quickly, I'm guessing your mystery structures are looking more "fungus-like" already? Keep an eye on these structures and see what happens over the next few days to make sure. It would have been helpful if you had told me their size but I'm quite sure these structures are not reptile eggs. Thanks for sharing.
John Wiessinger ( September 26, 2006)