r/herpetology • u/GooseAigs • 1d ago

Little snapper I found

Post image

A snapping turtle me and my gf found walking on a trail while we were looking for tiger salamander, don’t worry I put him back exactly where I found him.

755 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

52 comments sorted by

46

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

13

u/GooseAigs 1d ago

Exactly where I learned

1

u/herpetology-ModTeam 7h ago

Your post was removed because the content is not scientific in nature, or blatantly incorrect information based on current accepted scientific literature. Controversial topics are welcome with appropriate acknowledgment of the controversy. If you believe your post fits these guidelines, you are welcome to edit your post for clarity and message the moderators.

20

u/MaggieHigg 1d ago

proper snapper holding form

62

u/Turbineguy79 1d ago

Crazy ur holding him.

43

u/GooseAigs 1d ago

He was nice till I put him back down

26

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

10

u/Turbineguy79 1d ago

Yeah more brave than me. I’ve seen the neck fully out and it was like 3/4 the length of the shell. 🤣 This is one I’d be happy with just photo on the ground.

2

u/Freya-The-Wolf 15h ago

Holding how op is doing (with a hand on the back of the plastron) or by the back of the shell where the back feet are are the only two safe way ways to hold a snapping turtle. You cannot "burger" them. They can reach the midpoint of their shell and will bite you.

1

u/herpetology-ModTeam 15h ago

Your post was removed because the content is not scientific in nature, or blatantly incorrect information based on current accepted scientific literature. Controversial topics are welcome with appropriate acknowledgment of the controversy. If you believe your post fits these guidelines, you are welcome to edit your post for clarity and message the moderators.

-3

u/[deleted] 21h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/herpetology-ModTeam 15h ago

Your post was removed because it suggests the intentional injury or killing of an animal without a sanctioned scientific purpose.

14

u/WendigoRider 1d ago

Little!? Bro's as big as my cat

12

u/TheBigHornedGoat 1d ago

Might be a regional thing. If I found the snapper in my area I’d consider it small

3

u/WendigoRider 1d ago

God damn! We don’t have them up here where I am so I have 0 frame of reference to their normal size. Just looks like a big ol turtle to me lol!

6

u/Oddish_Femboy 1d ago

This one's tiny! They get a LOT bigger, and their sister species get even more so!

1

u/WendigoRider 1d ago

JEEZ!! Do they get big enough to take off limbs? I think I'm gonna stay up in my snapper free zone lol! I'd hate to step on one and get snapped

4

u/fionageck 19h ago

Contrary to popular belief, common snappers can’t even take off a finger (still wouldn’t recommend getting bitten by one, though!). If it makes you feel better, you’re unlikely to get bitten by stepping on one. I’ve gone on lots of turtle surveys as a Field Tech, and sometimes while trudging through the marsh we’ll accidentally step on a snapper. Spoiler alert: nothing happens. They’re unlikely to bite unless you pick them up, that’s when they get defensive.

1

u/WendigoRider 19h ago

That's good to know! Even if I live in a 100% snapper free area

3

u/Oddish_Femboy 1d ago

Maybe up to a wrist, but there's no records of that, and definitely not a whole arm.

Imagine them a bit bigger than a 30 inch pizza, and up to 250 pounds or so. Most of them in the wild will be much smaller, though. 90 pounds and 13 inches are normal.

Thankfully they're not actually aggressive. They should be handled carefully and gently, because they have a heck of a range and the burst speed of an ambush predator, but they rarely actually bite, and none have ever been responsible for a human death.

1

u/WendigoRider 1d ago

Well, that's comforting at least, massive turtles my god

3

u/Oddish_Femboy 1d ago

You should see how big giant tortoises get! Had one try to lay on my once. Thought I was gonna need medical attention!

13

u/_TASTE-THE-WASTE_ 1d ago

Man that thing is clean. Most snappers I come across are covered in slimy, stinky algea and moss.

10

u/GooseAigs 1d ago

It was weird we found him in a prairie no pond near my guess is he was laying in the marsh eating the rodents and frogs it was only muddy

7

u/DollarStoreChameleon 1d ago

what a cutie! im glad that the science of clint has helped us learn how to pick up these little buggers lol. makes it easier to move them across the road without em being angry!

1

u/Oddish_Femboy 1d ago

*little burgers

3

u/DollarStoreChameleon 23h ago

hold burger gently, like burger.

8

u/TheBigHornedGoat 1d ago

See, when you hold snappers right they tend to be rather chill. That lil dude is just chilling, not even fighting it

3

u/fionageck 19h ago

Eh, in my experience they’re generally defensive even when handled properly. Might depend on the individual.

3

u/nylorac_o 1d ago

He’s adorable (?)

Great photo! I love being able to zoom in and see his detail.

3

u/Oddish_Femboy 1d ago

Holding it the nice way :)

4

u/jerrycan-cola 1d ago

Little hahaha

1

u/DontBeSuspicious_00 1d ago

He looks thrilled about this

1

u/hudsoncress 1d ago

Fun fact, in PA at least, you can catch turtles legally with a fishing license, but you can’t keep them unless you kill them.

1

u/shmiddleedee 1d ago

They are consistently the most foul smelling animal there is. Super cool though and I deal with them constantly because of my line of work

1

u/Riskskey1 22h ago

He's got the crazy eyes

1

u/Cool_Froyo9655 20h ago

Him is precious

1

u/LasVegasTimmy 18h ago

THATS NOT LITTLE!!!!

1

u/Puzzleheaded_Bath_86 1d ago

Nah dude that's a dinosaur

-2

u/BrtFrkwr 1d ago

You know that thing can take your arm off, don't you?

6

u/fionageck 1d ago

No, they can’t. Although you don’t want to get bitten by one, the damage they can do is overblown. And if you’re holding them safely (like OP is), there’s no risk to either you or the snapper.

0

u/dannop11-11_11 1d ago

I dunno…lot’s of snapping turtle enthusiasts missing fingers and toes…

1

u/fionageck 20h ago

Can you share an example of one?

1

u/dannop11-11_11 19h ago

Most reported losses of fingers or toes occur when individuals try to remove fishing hooks, handle the turtle improperly, or attempt to pet or antagonize the animal.

An injury for a famous person may be public but for private people/kids such instances don’t make the news.

3

u/fionageck 19h ago

I still haven’t seen a single shred of evidence that common snappers can take off fingers, just a bunch of people repeating what they’ve heard. The bite force of a common snapper is less than that of a human.

I’m a Field Tech who has been working with turtles (including plenty of snappers) for a few field seasons now, and I work with a biologist who has been working with them for decades, so I’m quite familiar with them.

1

u/fishin_pups 18h ago

Well they’d all respond on here if they had fingers to type haha

3

u/SayGex1312 21h ago

Nonsense. They can take fingers, but they definitely can’t bite someone’s arm off, much less one this small.

0

u/fionageck 20h ago

Is there any evidence that they can take off fingers? AFAIK, their bite force is less than that of a human.

-4

u/[deleted] 23h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/herpetology-ModTeam 15h ago

Your post was removed because it suggests the intentional injury or killing of an animal without a sanctioned scientific purpose.

0

u/fionageck 19h ago

Seriously, that’s where your mind goes? To eating them? Turtles populations are declining all over the world thanks to humans. Ever consider not being part of the problem?