In my experience (with captive specimens, not wild, I'll grant you) I've gotten hundreds of clutches from Honduran Milksnakes, which were my specialty.

Yes, patterns emerged. First clutches were generally laid within 30 days of one another, from several dozen or more females each year for more than half a dozen years. But every year there were females whose feeding patterns differed from the majority, who ovulated later than the majority, who first accepted copulation later than the majority, and who laid later than the majority, often one or two post-brumation sheds later than the majority.

So--based on the majority of my Lampropeltis females (also included other triangulums, getula, etc) -- I'd say the likelihood is the female Tim observed is gravid with her second clutch. And I'd say it's entirely possible, though less likely, that it's her first.

and given the absence of further evidence we're not likely to have access to regarding that specific female's history, I don't think there's much to debate.

cheers and peace
td

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