Snapping Turtles in the USA

The fearsome-looking snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in the United States. They are found throughout most of the country. Snappers are formidable predators with quick-striking bites that can easily amputate a finger. Consequently, they are not recommended as pets. In fact, in California, one state where they not indigenous, it is illegal to possess a snapping turtle.

  1. Appearance

    • The common adult snapping turtle can reach a length of 14 inches and weigh as much as 40 pounds. Its cousin, the alligator snapper, can get as big as 140 pounds. They have an almost prehistoric look with a rough shell distinguished by sharp serrations in the rear. The belly portion of the shell is flat and comparatively small and provides the turtle with little protection. It has a large, sinister-looking head and a fleshy tail. The feet are broad and webbed. Unlike box turtles, the snapper cannot completely retract its head and tail into its shell.

    Range/Habitat

    • The range of snapping turtles is extensive. They can be found throughout the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. They are also native to Mexico, Central America and South America, as far south as Ecuador. They reside in slow-running rivers, streams, ponds and marshes. They prefer muddy bottoms where they can ambush prey. Unlike other turtles, snappers are highly aquatic and don't make many overland journeys or bask in the sun. They prefer to stay near the bottom of ponds and rivers where they will hibernate in the mud.

    Diet

    • Preferring to remain embedded in muddy bottoms, snapping turtles use the location to ambush fish, which constitute the majority of their diet. They also dine on young waterfowl, which they stalk from beneath the surface of the water; however, they will occasionally snatch prey from stream banks. They have also been known to attack small reptiles and mammals. Snappers are omnivorous. Besides fish, frogs, snails and insects, they also eat vegetable matter, which makes up about 40 percent to 50 percent of their diet.

    Reproduction

    • Snapping turtles reach sexual maturity when they reach approximately 8 inches long, but that can vary from region to region throughout the U.S. Mating season can be as long as May to November in some areas. As reptiles, snappers reproduce by laying eyes. Once the male impregnates the female, she digs a hole in the sandy soil. Clutch sizes range from 20 to 40 eggs, but larger turtles can lay upwards of 80. Depending on the weather, incubation can take nine to 18 weeks. Because the females can store sperm, they can lay eggs each season without mating. The life span of a snapping turtle is estimated to be about 30 years.