Warning to Aussies after woman's 'really common' garden find: 'Never touch'

With reptile mating season drawing to a close, Australians can expect to see more of these eggs around the place.

A woman's hand holds two small gecko eggs.
Authorities have reminded the public to never touch reptile eggs if found in the wild due to the fact the juveniles inside can be drowned. Source: Facebook/Samantha Reid

Authorities have reminded the public "to never touch" reptile eggs if they encounter them in the wild as the juveniles inside can be easily "drowned" if handled incorrectly.

With typical mating season for reptiles in Australia — including lizards and snakes — being from September to December to mark the start of the warmer weather, officials have told residents around the country to be on alert for, but not to interfere with, our native wildlife.

It comes after a Western Australian took to social media on Thursday after having found two tiny lizard eggs in her "mother's garden". She asked a community group what species they originated from, posting a photo of the two miniature eggs in the palm of her hand.

The post attracted hundreds of interactions, many believing they belonged to a gecko lizard. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Park Manager at the Australian Reptile Park Billy Collett agreed.

A gecko is seen walking along the ground.
Geckos are widely distributed across Australia, with anspecies found in almost every habitat, from arid deserts to tropical rainforests and urban areas. Source: Getty

He said sights like this one are common at this time of year, with reptile mating coinciding with warmer weather in spring and early summer

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"These are definitely lizard eggs and are really common to see this time of year, they’re likely close to hatching," he told Yahoo.

"You can’t roll reptile eggs because the motion may cause the developing juvenile to drown inside the egg, so it is important to not touch any eggs you may find."

Lizard eggs in Australia vary significantly depending on the species. Most lizards are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs, though some, such as blue-tongued skinks, are viviparous and give birth to live young. Lizard eggs are typically soft and leathery, allowing them to absorb moisture from the surrounding 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 like dragons may lay upwards of 20 eggs.

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