florida softshell turtle eggs

Question
Yesterday, we found a softshell turtle in our garage. She decided to crawl into our garden and bury herself in the dirt. Throughout the night she had dug a hole and laid eggs, 10 as far as we can see. We know not to touch, and are excited she picked us. How long before they hatch and is there anything we can do to ensure safety until they do?

Answer
If the eggs are actually fertilized you should expect the babies in 2 to 2.5 months. The best you can do is try and keep animals away from the area that might try and dig them up for food, and otherwise just wait. However, do not be surprised if nothing happens, clutches of eggs frequently do not hatch for a variety of reasons. Good luck!