Chelydra serpentina

[mrcanada21]

A newly hatched common snapping turtle. This little guy was in a puddle in the middle of a pretty well travelled path. I usually wouldn't relocate animals but i did put this guy into the marsh where he belonged. I'm sure a child, predator or bicycle would have made his day pretty miserable before too long.

[mrcanada21]

here's a full body shot of the same individual

[Siretsap]

I love snapping turtles. The babies are just the cutest thing while some of the adults are butt ugly. ;-) I always find babies along the roads at my cottage or find them on the side of our land. Sad part is finding a few squashed on the road. Still trying to figure out why the mother turtle goes so far from the lake to lay her eggs...

[mrcanada21]

I bet its to avoid the threat of flooding.

[Siretsap]

Maybe, but we found some babies almost 1km away from the lake. Odd and I think some of the ones that go quite far too to lay the eggs are the painted turtles.. I find more of those on the road than snapping turtles.

A while back, we were walking along a wood and saw a mother snapping turtle digging. Saw the whole egg laying process and it was really spectacular to watch. The turtle never seemed alarmed by us and I do believe that the theory of turtles going into a trence when they lay is true. We had to put her in a wheel barrel to carry her back to the lake... Unfortunatly the eggs didn't hatch, I think it became too hot in the sun.