# I caught the snapping turtle. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 10, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520 "2009-07-10T02:32:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/21 "2009-07-10T13:58:05Z")
I remember finding a baby snapper crossing US41. I was stopped at a red left turn and got out to save it before any traffic came along. Took it home and let it go in one of the large ponds at my complex. It was only about the size of a silver dollar. I wonder how it’s doing now. ---
**Author:** ![pipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c2a13f/32.png) [@pipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pipper)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/22 "2009-07-10T14:11:08Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Oh my, that _is_ Macrochelys temminckii. I’m surprised he didn’t have their hands off. 🙂 > > My guy was a very calm Chelydra serpentina. Actually it’s the other way around. The common snappers are much more cantankerous and prone to biting than their larger Alligator cousins. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/23 "2009-07-10T14:25:17Z")
> [@kittenblue](#): > > Does the golf course know that you deposited a vicious critter in their pond? Might want to warn the groundskeepers! Not to blindly support the relocation of animals, but believe me, if it is a golf course with water in a climate that will support them, they’ve got snappers. At our local courses we are occasionally surprised to find large snappers halfway across fairways, or digging nests in sandtraps. And in my experience, snappers are pretty shy. We used to swim, float, waterski, jetski, fish, etc. in a small (8 acre) private lake. The owner intentionally put snappers in there to cut down the bluegills (don’t ask me - he is the kind of guy who just assumes he can do a better job tan nature!) Well, they thrived, such that you would regularly see toilet-seat sized turtles floating just below the surface. But they seemed to keep a fair distance from the 2 main swimming beaches, and I never heard a single instance of someone being bitten. ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/24 "2009-07-10T16:01:50Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > I remember finding a baby snapper crossing US41. I was stopped at a red left turn and got out to save it before any traffic came along. Took it home and let it go in one of the large ponds at my complex. It was only about the size of a silver dollar. I wonder how it’s doing now. I rescued a baby common snapper from the highway, and my daughter kept it as a pet. After about a year, it’s about 3 inches in diameter. It’s a fascinating little animal and very easy to feed. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/25 "2009-07-10T16:16:59Z")
Boy, that was disappointing. Anyone else assume “I caught the snapping turtle” referred to the kama sutra? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/26 "2009-07-10T16:20:28Z")
We recently had people bring us a Gopher Tortoise that they had found in their yard. They tried to take him to the pond on the other side of the street but he kept walking away and trying to cross the road so they brought him to us because they were afraid he was going to get run over. I guess we should be grateful that they didn’t try to chuck him out to the middle of the pond “for his own good”. Yes, we did tell them that it is both illegal to mess with Gopher Tortoises and that they are land turtles, not water turtles. We sent him to a wildlife rehabber who will hopefully find him a better location. This sort of thing actually happens a lot, many people seem to think that all turtles belong in the water. I shudder to think how many Gopher Tortoises might have drowned thanks to well-meaning but ignorant people. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/27 "2009-07-10T17:26:19Z")
I have rescued and once found too late box turtles that fell into pools. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/28 "2009-07-10T19:12:09Z")
So what _is_ the best way to move a snapping turtle? I just went through this a couple weeks ago; now is the time of year that females look for places to lay their eggs and it is not at all unusual to see them trying to (slooowly) cross the road. I was on my way to work and saw one right in the middle of my lane, and a fairly large one to boot. Pretty much all I could do was put my foot under her rear and roll her over to the side of the road, having no other means of moving her. She was not at all happy with me but she was safe. I wasn’t about to try and pick her up. I like my hands and fingers far too much, and they can reach waay back with those long necks of theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/29 "2009-07-10T19:18:56Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > So what _is_ the best way to move a snapping turtle? (opening myself up to potential charges of animal abuse) - IME the only way to safely move a large snapper is to grab it by its tail. I’ve moved smaller ones by having them chomp onto a stick and then just carrying the stick. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/30 "2009-07-10T19:24:31Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > … IME the only way to safely move a large snapper is to grab it by its tail. … Maybe not. > [@](#): > > It is a [common misconception](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Snapping_Turtle#Importance_to_humans) that Common snappers may be safely picked up by its tail, with no harm to the animal; in fact, this has a high chance of injuring the turtle, especially the tail itself and the vertebral column. A handler must also be wary of injury; these turtles are aptly named, as they can snap with amazing speed and power — a large adult snapper can easily bite off a finger or toe. If moving it is absolutely necessary, \*\*scooping and lifting the turtle just off the ground with a shovel \*\*(especially a snow shovel), if done quickly, may be safest and easiest for all concerned parties. [my bolding] ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/31 "2009-07-10T19:25:45Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > (opening myself up to potential charges of animal abuse) - IME the only way to safely move a large snapper is to grab it by its tail. I’ve moved smaller ones by having them chomp onto a stick and then just carrying the stick. I was wishing I had a stick at the time. I’ve heard about the tail thing, but it seems like there would be too much of a chance of injury to the turtle that way (though if I’d left her in the road she probably would have ended up 100% dead). She was too muddy to pick up anyway though - to much chance of slippage and injury to both of us. ETA now that I see **emmaliminal’s** comment: She was a pretty big one - I would have had to use a snow shovel to move her (not available in July in NC). I have a friend who volunteers at a rehabilitation facility for sea animals - I was thinking if I had one of boards they use to herd sea lions I could have made good use of it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/32 "2009-07-10T19:31:59Z")
Okay, I retract my recommendation. The damned thing WAS incredibly slippery. Sure didn’t seem to bother it any. Even tho I REALLY dislike snappers and consider them essentially vermin wherever I’ve encountered them, I have no desire to cause any creature unnecessary pain. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/33 "2009-07-10T20:56:09Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > So what _is_ the best way to move a snapping turtle? Into someone else lake. 🙂 I saw the red eared slider laying and left her alone. Unfortunately I didn’t remember to come back before she hid in the lily pool. Does she lay just once? Is her boyfriend also in the pool, or did he “take a job in the city”? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/34 "2009-07-10T21:08:41Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I saw the red eared slider … So, you’re saying you had turtles: snappin’ and a slidin’ peepin’ and a-hidin’? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/35 "2009-07-10T21:12:31Z")
And bitin’ and eatin’ that’s the important part. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/36 "2009-07-10T21:17:20Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > And bitin’ and eatin’ that’s the important part. Do red-eared sliders bite people? or are they just bitin’ on your preferred flora and fauna what they are subsequently eatin’? I see 'em all over the place but never got close enough to one to get bit. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520/37 "2009-07-10T21:25:46Z")
> [@emmaliminal](#): > > Do red-eared sliders bite people? I doubt it, and certainly without serious consequence. Young ones are carnivorous and older ones omnivorous. I’ve seen the slider in both pools, although I’ve been given to understand that snappers are territorial and may have run her out of the lotus pool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-caught-the-snapping-turtle/502520.md?page=1)