Common Snapping Turtle Environment

A native to North America, the common snapping turtle defends itself by striking at predators at a speed reminiscent of rattlesnakes. One of the best ways to see a snapping turtle in its natural environment requires careful observation of slow-moving streams and ponds for a snout sticking up out of the water.

  1. Description

    • As one of the largest freshwater turtles in the United States, common snapping turtles sport an oval-shaped carapace, or shell, varying in color from tan to olive-green to black. Their tails consist of three rows of pointed knobs, giving it a sawtooth look. The large head of the turtle features powerful jaws, bumpy skin and two yellowish stripes that slant back from its small eyes. Another identifying characteristics of the common snapping turtle are its sharp-curved beak and strong, stout legs with webbed feet. Both its front and back feet sport long, coarse nails. The turtle grows up to 40 pounds, with a shell that reaches up to 20 inches in length. Some turtles live for 60 years or more.

    Habitat

    • The turtles primarily live in muddy water in any freshwater source extending from east of the Rocky Mountains all the way south to Ecuador. A population of turtles also exists in central New Mexico. Common snapping turtles prefer permanent bodies of fresh water including bays, ponds, lakes, sloughs and slow streams. They spend most of their time buried in mud, weeds or logs with just their snout showing above water. The turtles sometimes climb onto logs or the bank to do a little sun basking.

    Food

    • Preferring to eat all of its meals underwater, the snapping turtle feasts on just about anything it can find. The turtle pulls down young waterfowl from the surface of the water, then drowns and eats them. It also hunts prey on the banks of the water it lives on, then takes the prey into the water to finish the meal. Snapping turtles also prey on fish, frogs, crabs, insects and snails as well as vegetable matter, small reptiles and mammals, other snapping turtles and snakes.

    Birthing

    • One of the few times snapping turtles leave the water and stay out of it occurs when the female is ready to lay eggs. The female selects a damp spot, often far from the water in which she lives, and begins to scoop the soil from the hole. She then crawls into the hole, moving around until the loose soil falls back over her body. This helps her stay hidden until she lays up to two dozen eggs in the hole. As soon as the last egg is laid, she leaves the hole with the dirt falling off her helping to cover the round, white eggs until they hatch.

    Threats

    • In California, snapping turtles are considered an invasive species, making it illegal to possess or release them into the wild. In Minnesota, the snapping turtle remains on the species of special concern list.