# There's a turtle in my front yard **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272 "2011-07-25T15:19:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/1 "2011-07-25T15:19:49Z")
I went to put something in the mailbox this morning, and came back to [this](https://picasaweb.google.com/Gnomzilla/2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCNjvmrzW9972ZQ#5633308375574883026) in my front yard. A couple more views: [The other side](https://picasaweb.google.com/Gnomzilla/2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCNjvmrzW9972ZQ#5633308393072356130) [Not quite so close](https://picasaweb.google.com/Gnomzilla/2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCNjvmrzW9972ZQ#5633308361568874834) Scared the crap out of me. WTF is this thing doing in my yard? Yes, there’s a creek in the back yard, but it’s at least a 5-10 minute walk (for me, not a turtle) down a very steep gully to get to it. I’m thinking it’s a snapping turtle. Scary. I’m barring the door until it’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/2 "2011-07-25T15:31:13Z")
Wow. I was expecting one of those little box turtles that occassionally show up. That sucker looks like a man-eater. Might want to consider a run for the hills. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/3 "2011-07-25T15:33:17Z")
He (She?) is a handsome specimen. Keep your distance and he won’t hurt you. Fables aside, they cannot move that quickly. Looks like You got a creek in your backyard that is at least a 5 minute walk? thats a big back yard. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/4 "2011-07-25T15:34:28Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > I’m thinking it’s a snapping turtle. Scary. I’m barring the door until it’s gone. Yep, snapping turtle. Do NOT attempt to boop it’s nose. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/5 "2011-07-25T15:34:44Z")
At the very least, a pug-eater. We figure he’s about 16" long, including the tail. He’s off in the yard now, eying my hydrangea. Scary bugger, no doubt. If he gets any closer, I’m calling the national guard. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/6 "2011-07-25T15:35:18Z")
I’m blocked from viewing the pictures at work, but we get turtles all the time here (Ottawa area). I see them on my street and the nearest pond, creek, or swap is miles away. They like to roam to remote areas and lay eggs in sandy ground. Apparently gravel roads and shoulders are sandy enough for them. Species include the Snapping turtle, Midland Painted turtle, Spiny Softshell turtle, Stinkpot turtle, Blanding’s turtle, Northern Map turtle and the Wood turtle. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/7 "2011-07-25T15:35:42Z")
Soup? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/8 "2011-07-25T15:36:16Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > You got a creek in your backyard that is at least a 5 minute walk? thats a big back yard. We’ve got 11 acres, so yeah. The 5 minutes includes walking around the house (Mr. Scary Turtle is in the front) - the creek is visible from the windows in the back of the house, but it’s down a big gully. Quite a trek for a turtle, even a big scary pug-eating one. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/9 "2011-07-25T15:50:20Z")
Snapping turtles are actually pretty lazy. Um, they can move pretty fast if they want to, but they rarely want to. They mostly just mind their own business, unless you bother them. He’s a lovely guy. I wonder how old he is…looks pretty old. Just think, that fellow is probably older than your whole family. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/10 "2011-07-25T16:09:52Z")
Is she going to lay eggs? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/11 "2011-07-25T16:14:08Z")
If he starts chasing you, you’ll eventually want to amble away. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/12 "2011-07-25T16:21:07Z")
That there is the state reptile of New York! ---
**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 25, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/13 "2011-07-25T16:25:42Z")
A couple years ago we were kayaking the Allegheny River near Emlington, PA. We stopped along shore for a pee break, and I nearly stepped on one that size. They can easily snap a decent sized tree branch (speaking from experience). 😉 ---
**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 25, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/14 "2011-07-25T16:45:38Z")
Yes, that’s a snapping turtle and she’s probably looking for a place to lay her eggs - it’s that time of year, and they like to lay them away from where they normally hang out. They snap because unlike other turtles they are too big to hide completely inside their shells. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/15 "2011-07-25T16:47:42Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Yes, that’s a snapping turtle and she’s probably looking for a place to lay her eggs - it’s that time of year, and they like to lay them away from where they normally hang out. They snap because unlike other turtles they are too big to hide completely inside their shells. Is it really? God I hope she’s not looking for a nest. Everything I read says they lay eggs between late May and early July - isn’t it too late? ---
**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 25, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/16 "2011-07-25T16:51:26Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Is it really? God I hope she’s not looking for a nest. Everything I read says they lay eggs between late May and early July - isn’t it too late? I doubt she’s looking at a calendar 🙂 They lay eggs in sandy soil, so if there’s any of that around, that’s where she’ll go. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/17 "2011-07-25T16:55:17Z")
What a nice turtle. Probably would love a belly rub. :dubious: It looks kind of like the turtle I once rescued from the middle of a two-lane highway in Iowa. It lurched out of my grasp once I had it almost on the shoulder, bonked its noggin and then snapped viciously at me when I attempted to move it over a bit more out of harm’s way. Hey, you can fend for yourself now, ungrateful beast. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/18 "2011-07-25T16:56:44Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > They lay eggs in sandy soil, so if there’s any of that around, that’s where she’ll go. You just described about 10.99999 of my 11 acres. Shit. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/19 "2011-07-25T17:02:17Z")
cute turtle. you’re so lucky. 😉 he’ll make a nice mascot for the yard. turtles are harmless unless you stick your hand in their mouth. live and let live. he’ll never bother anything. ---
**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 25, 2011, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272/20 "2011-07-25T17:03:29Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > You just described about 10.99999 of my 11 acres. > > Shit. It’s not a big deal. They aren’t dangerous when they are little, and a lot of them get eaten when they are small. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theres-a-turtle-in-my-front-yard/590272.md?page=2)