The University of Saskatchewan’s resident snake has laid eggs without the help of a male partner for the third year in a row.
Sammy laid 20 unfertilized eggs on Thursday. She laid 18 unfertilized eggs last year and four the year before.
The facility manager at the university’s Museum of Natural Sciences said it’s uncommon for snakes to lay eggs without a mate. The unfertilized eggs are laid instinctively and formed for a few months during hibernation before they rot, according to Sue Johnson.
“They’re larger and more numerous than they have been in past years, but then again, she’s larger and more mature than she’s been in past years,” Johnson said. “It was sort of expected and she showed specific behaviours of digging a nest prior to laying the eggs, so it was just waiting for the babies that weren’t going to happen.”
The 12-year-old black rat snake lives at the Museum of Natural Sciences. Sammy’s eggs will be on display for the rest of the month.
