I was there from November 2000 to Aug 2001. Right through the entirety of the breeding cycle. This experience has been hugely helpful to me because I know EXACTLY what their unique weather cycles feel like!Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh
Youtube video: That shows me that there was more than one bp in THAT hole at THAT time, the eggs give a good idea of what part of the season it was filmed.
No I never saw more than one bp in a hole. That doesn't mean there never is. I wasn't digging for them during laying season either... I was there for other reasons...
My opinion of the bps sharing space in the wild:
1. In my experience they seem to be solitary nearly all of the time in the wild.
2. If they were to share space during the season where they are feeding heavily, they are reducing their odds of getting a meal by 50% or greater depending how many bps there will be going after the rodent that wandered down the hole.
3. Obviously males and females are getting together during breeding season.
4. Toward the end of the breeding season most will be off feed, reducing the competition for food.
5. Once a female is past ovulation they are more likely to hunker down in the first hole they find, regardless of occupants (there is no reason to forage for copulation or feeding) Also moving around too much with the heavy load of eggs would make them more vulnerable to predators
6. There may be far fewer spots that are adventagious for the incubation of eggs, temp and moisture wise. Also the hole has to be big enough to squeeze into with the additional girth. This may be why multiple females are seen sharing space during laying season. simply not enough good spots for them all to have one!
Justin
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