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Do Not Feed
the Turtle
Howard Reisman
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In late
spring, walking along a local pond, you might come upon a
large dark turtle making its way across the road. We have
often helped
small box turtles avoid becoming road kill by gently moving
them out of harm’s way. It would be a mistake to casually
extend the same courtesy to the larger turtle because it
would be Chelydra serpentina, the snapping turtle. These
turtles have large heads, strong jaws with a hooked
beak, menacing claws, and a saw-toothed tail. The head and
body appear to be too large for its shell, which consists of
a top carapace and a small plastron protecting the
underside. A large adult can be over 2 feet long and weigh
30 lbs. or more. When on land, snapping turtles do not
simply tuck their head into their shell but strike out
aggressively. The savvy hiker who might want to be helpful
should approach cautiously.
The
snapping turtle seen in June is likely a female who during
the egg-laying season would be searching for a sandy nesting
area. Females lay up to 30 eggs in the nest pit and then
cover it with soil. Many of these nests are discovered
and preyed
upon by raccoons.
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Snapping
turtles are not only the largest freshwater turtle on Long
Island but also the most aquatic. Except for the nesting
and basking, these turtles rarely leave the pond although as
reptiles they must surface to breathe. What does Chelydra
eat? Anything it wants and can catch. It is omnivorous,
eating fish, frogs, and plant material. Small prey can be
swallowed whole, whereas larger prey is torn apart using the
sharp front claws. Although snapping turtles are too slow
to catch a healthy adult fish they will scavenge on dead
fish and other carrion.
Now,
during the winter, these turtles hibernate, burying
themselves in mud to avoid freezing. Perhaps dreaming of
mating seasons past and dead fish of the future.
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