Snapper Tails

Snapper Tails

This tail belongs to a female snapping turtle…..
Found in shallow ponds, lakes, or streams, snapping turtles are omnivores, eating both plant and animals including invertebrates, fish, frogs, reptiles (including snakes and smaller turtles), unwary birds and small mammals.

Snappers will travel far overland to reach new habitat or to lay eggs. Pollution, habitat destruction, food scarcity, overcrowding and other factors will drive snappers to move overland.The female can hold sperm for several seasons, utilizing it as necessary. Females travel over land to find sandy soil in which to lay their eggs, often some distance from the water. After digging a hole, the female typically deposits 25 to 80 eggs each year. Durring cooler weather the eggs will hatch in the following spring.

This gravid female I photographed was climbing up a waterfall at the West Bend National Park looking for a good location to lay her eggs. When she saw me she ducked her head down into the water…figuring…if I couldn’t see her face? I couldnt’ see HER. Didn’t work.

Weighing up to 75pounds and living over 40 years….these are the same turtles that bite the toes and fingers off idiots who go into water areas and stick their feet under and fingers under rocks looking for catfish.

Snapper Tails belongs to the following groups:

Animal Kingdom, Green!, National Parks of the World, Reptiles and Amphibians and United States