Snapping Turtles Are Like A Step Back In Time

You have all heard the saying that “Things happen in threes?”

Well last two weeks I kind of had that very experience! On Thursday, June 2, I just began driving to get my breakfast at 9:53 a.m. (I know I can be precise!) and I came across a snapping turtle crossing Youngs Island Road near my house. Later that day, 7:21, p.m., at that same location I came across another/or same snapping turtle going back across the roadway.

A few days later I am driving down Youngs Island Road and look out across the sod field and notice a dark shadow at the far end of the field. I zoom in with my camera and it is a large snapping turtle!

This last Friday morning Anne Marie and I are driving along in the Princeton area and come across a large snapping turtle trying to cross the busy road. I stopped and took out a large plastic bin in the back of my SUV and worked the turtle into the bin and dumped it across the roadway into the grass! I mentioned to Anne Marie, now that I am thinking about it, “Wonder if I have ever done a Photo of the Week on a snapping turtle?” Verified later on I had not! OK I now have my next Photo of the Week article!

Some Background on these prehistoric looking creatures:

TYPES OF SNAPPING TURTLE – There are two types of snapping turtles, common and alligator snapping turtle, they belong in a larger family of turtles, called chelydridae. In this particular family, there are seven extinct and two extant genera. Those two extant genera are the Chelydra and the Macrochelys. The common snapping turtle belongs in the Chelydra genus, and the alligator snapping turtle belongs in the Macrochelys genus. They are both characterized by massive heads with powerful hooked jaws, and long tails.

HABITAT OF SNAPPING TURTLES – Snapping turtles are restricted only to America. The common snapping turtle inhabits a wide range of areas from southeastern Canada to Nova Scotia and Florida. The alligator snapping turtle mostly inhabits the southeastern United State, primarily found in Florida, Texas and Kansas. These primitive-looking turtles occupy aquatic habitats of many descriptions, are opportunistic feeders, and lay large clutches of flexible-shelled eggs. Males grow larger than females.

SNAPPING TURTLES CAN EAT OTHER TURTLES – Snapping turtles will eat almost anything they can catch, including other types of turtles. According to a study conducted in Louisiana, 79.8% of the stomach of alligator snapping turtle consists of parts from other turtles.

ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE IS LARGEST FRESHWATER TURTLE – Supposedly the biggest snapping turtle that ever lived was an alligator snapping turtle, found in Kansas. It weighed 403 pounds.

SNAPPING TURTLES HAVE STRONG BITES – Their jaw strength, while nothing to sneeze at, is somewhat overrated. Common snapping turtles can clamp down with up to 656.81 newtons (N) of force, though typical bites register an average of 209 N. Their alligator-like cousins usually exert 158 N. You, on the hand, can apply 1300 N between your second molars! Keep in mind power isn’t everything because their beaks are well-designed for major-league shearing, NOTE- I’m thinking of our fingers here!

If you are still not impressed yet consider the following. It is often said that an adult snapping turtle can bite a wooden broom handle in half. Biologist Peter Pritchard decided to play MythBuster. In 1989, he prodded a 165 pound individual with a brand new broomstick. Chomp number one went deep but didn’t quite break through the wood. The second bite quickly finished the job!

NEVER PICK UP A SNAPPING TURTLE BY ITS TAIL – When people see a baby snapping turtle in trouble and try to help it, they often do so by picking it up by its tail. However, that is not the appropriate approach. If you do that, there is a chance of you hurting the turtle by injuring its vertebral column. Instead pick it up by holding its shell edges. **(NOTE) I don’t know how good this procedure works for protecting YOUR fingers!!**

THEY HAVE A LONG LIFETIME – It is common knowledge that turtles have a long lifespan. How long do snapping turtles live? Scientists believe that the common snapping turtle can live up to 100 years and the alligator snapping turtle a surprisingly 200 years!

COMMON SNAPPING TURTLE IS NEW YORK’S OFFICIAL REPTILE – You can say that the common snapping turtle is a kind of a famous animal. n 2006, these types of turtles were declared as the State reptile of New York. They were chosen by the state’s elementary school children.

CAN’T RETREAT INTO THEIR SHELLS – Unlike other species of turtles, the snapping turtle can’t retreat into its shell. It is believed that with time the snapping turtle has evolved, and nowadays, it doesn’t need to hide into a shell when danger occurs. However, even though these animals are large and dangerous, they still feel vulnerable on land. They are gifted with the ability to snap at the attacker, hence their name. This is one reason they bite! It is part of their defense mechanism. **NOTE#1: I believe most turtles are thought of as slow and sluggish. Mess with a snapping turtle I believe you will get a REAL QUICK change of heart!** ** NOTE#2: The head of these turtles is very flexible, thus they move and stretch it towards any direction AND up to a considerable length! If you are holding the back end of these animals, your hands are still in danger!**

BREEDING: They mate April to November with the peak egg laying season in June. They lay as many as 83 eggs in a deep, flask shaped cavity. Incubation depends on weather and it takes 9 to 18 weeks to hatch.

Just remember when you look at a snapping turtle, you are looking back into the past – WAY BACK – to the times of the dinosaurs!