She's ba-aaack!

[kozmic]

Our resident female snapping turtle, Annette (any similarity to my mother-in-law's name is strictly coincidental-more or less) has made her annual sojourn to her nesting grounds along the side of our road.

I saw her at 6:30 this morning when I left for work and she was still seeking that perfect nesting spot at 8:00 tonight when I was out mowing my side yard. She's been serpentining from side to side of our road all day.

A few years back we were able to see her clutch hatch out and watched her babies make their way to the pond. Admittedly, we scooped up the last few hatchlings and carried them to water's edge.

 

[shouldazagged]

In the looks department, that's a mother only a mother could love. But it's obvious she's family to you. Good on you for assisting the little ones. Starting life is hazardous enough for them without getting stranded short of the pond.

 

[MY15-22]

That is one good looking turtle.

 

[RonJ]

While looking at your thumbnails I thought she must be a Holy
turtle. Then when I enlarged them it was evident that she wasn't walking on water.

 

[vigil617]

The Koz Menagerie just grew by one.

I'm seeing the Kozmic National Wildlife Refuge and Home Place, to be designated sometime in the near future.

You really should start a Yard Critter of the Month Club, Rick. (Not that you haven't, unofficially, already!) It's amazing, the wildlife there on your little slice of Upstate heaven.

 

[islamoradamark]

great pictures havent a snappen turtle in a long time with all this salt water

 

[bhayles]

huh...didn't know Alligator Snapping Turtles were that far north. Having lived on the fringes of the Okeefanokee swamp for most of my youth we always had them around.

Great pics.

 

[JcMack]

I think the Alligator snappers are a separate, is genus the word? We get the ones like in the pics around here. They grow really fast. There's a big swamp down the road, I've seen them there. Great story and pics.
The swamp froze over last winter for a long time. If all the carp died the turtles will have to rely on the occasional body for food.

 

[bhayles]

I think the Alligator snappers are a separate, is genus the word? We get the ones like in the pic around here.

Looks a lot like an Alligator snapper...I'd need a close-up of the head to be sure.

 

[kozmic]

huh...didn't know Alligator Snapping Turtles were that far north. Having lived on the fringes of the Okeefanokee swamp for most of my youth we always had them around.

Great pics.

She is actually a "Common Snapping Turtle". They are smaller, smoother "spikeless" shell and I believe, no pink "bait-thing" in her mouth (I've never been inclined to look). Their range is quite a bit further north than the Alligator Snapper. I've seen them when we do fishing fly-ins deep into Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario Canada.

Besides for breeding, egg laying and sunning themselves on rocks and logs, I seldom see any out of water. Annette is usually in deep muck and her back is covered in moss. She's quite the charmer!

 

[4barrel]

Mine is kinda timid & has been hanging around 15 or so years. About 10" or so across the back & camera shy. I was in a hurry & couldn't get good photos. It has a huge head. A search said this species of snapping turtle range from Texas to Canada. The Red River has millions.

 

[BigBill]

I seen one bigger than the 235-15" tire on my jeep in the shoulder of the highway above a pond where they just built the new highway. I had a state cop pull up behind me and asked what the problem was?
I told him there's a turtle that could flip a car if it crossed the highway. He went to the front of my car and grabbed his gun. We got it to turn around.

 

[75Vette]

Good Lord man! Call the Turtle Man! Live action!

 

[bhayles]

...smaller, smoother "spikeless" shell and I believe, no pink "bait-thing" in her mouth (I've never been inclined to look).

That's why I was sayin' I'd need a better look at her head...the spikes are in the skin around the neck area as well as the shell, I wanted to see if I could get a peek at the "lure" in her mouth, and how "hooked" her nose is...Alligator snappers have a very pronounced hook that extends down almost in front of their (closed) mouth.

Alligator snappers grow very big and live a long time. I once saw one that had a shell 4' 10" from front to back and I saw it snap a rough cut oak 2x4 in half with no problem. An expert from UGA estimated the age at 75 years.

 

[glowe]

I was out mowing my side yard. She's been serpentining from side to side of our road all day.

She is probably attracted to your Snapper Lawnmower! How many years has this been going on? These turtles can live to 50 years of age, so you will probably see many more spring adventures of Annette.

 

[vigil617]

Annette is usually in deep muck and her back is covered in moss.

"That's how I like my women." -- Annette's babies'-daddy

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

You oughta name her "Shelly".