Featured Turtle Pictures  -  June 7, 2006

Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) male

Straight Carapace Length (SCL) = 9"
Carapace Width = 7"
Weight = 11 lbs
Gender = male
Named: Kujo
Comments:
   - powerful male, estimated age 5 years old, in Hartford, KY

   - taken while loping across yard, ca. 3-Jun-06

   - measured, photographed, and released at remote lake on 8-Jun-06

   - note photos that demonstrate proper, safe holding technique:
     • use gloved hands to improve grip and protect from claws
     • grasp carapace (upper shell) firmly just forward of hind legs
     • keep your face and everyone else's body parts well away from the turtle's head

   - never pick a Snapping Turtle up by the tail:
     • likely to cause severe injury
     • causes extreme stress and agitation in Snapping Turtles and all others
     • they don't like being held upside down, anyway
 
 

He didn't need for me to draw him a picture when I set him down on the ground next to the lake ...
... he didn't look to the left
or to the right ... 
he just BARGED into the water!

 

Special thanks to the Ohio County Animal Clinic for their friendly support and assistance.