They can mate before they shed after brumation, (or before the first spring shed) but usually do it afterwards. Some people think that the shed skin has pheromones in it that tell the male the female is ready. So some people, including me, keep the shed skin and put it in with the mating couple to "help." It certainly doesn't hurt. So that is Zora's shed that I save and put in when I introduce the snakes.