What kind of egg did I just find??

[bluethruandthru]

While out watering a newly planted tree, I uncovered a rather large egg at the base of the tree. The egg is all white and larger than an extra large chicken egg. It was buried about an inch below the surface. What could it be?

[arwalden]

1. Where Do You Live? --- Could It Belong To A Turtle? Snake? Alligator?

[bluethruandthru]

2. Maryland

In Maryland in a small town subdivision. Hopefully not an Alligator! My first thought was turtle..but it seems awfully big. Then I thought snake..but it seemed a bit out in the open.

[arwalden]

3. Reptile Eggs Are Leathery And Not Perfect Ovals (If I Recall Correctly)...

Could it be an bird's egg that safely fell from a nest in that tree? Could it be that a forreging animal swiped it out of a low-lying bird's nest and then put it there for safe-keeping? I'm not sure what birds in Maryland typically nest on the ground (much less bury their eggs).

Interesting. Post a photo of it if you can.

[bluethruandthru]

4. Egg pictures

[arwalden]

5. Wow! Great photos... I don't have a CLUE what it could be.

Re-bury the egg as you found it and submit the photos (and an explantion of where you found it, how deep it was buried, etc) to a department head at UMBC or Univ of MD.

Maybe someone at the Chesapeake Bay office of the US Fish & Wildlife Service would be able to help (or refer you to someone).

http://www.fws.gov/chesapeakebay/

That's really interesting... let me know if you come up with anything.

[bluethruandthru]

6. Thank you

I buried it again. I'll keep an eye on it and report back what happens. There's definitely something inside.