Snapping Turtles

The turtles are on the move in the neighborhood. My prior posting was on a Wood turtle I found in our lawn and today we found a Snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) crossing the road.

While the Wood turtle is small, passive and makes a nice pet, the Snapping turtle has none of these characteristics. Snapping turtle are not an ideal pet.



Snapping turtles have fierce dispositions when encountered out of water. Unlike other turtles, they are too large to hide in their shells when confronted. Snapping is their defense mechanism. The turtle will try to scare off threats by hissing before it bites.

Its neck is very flexible, and a Snapping turtle can bite its handler even if picked up by the sides of its shell. The claws are sharp and dangerous.