Wild Guide: Eastern Snapping Turtle

Eastern Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

Status

Common

Size

Adult upper shell: 8–14 inches, to nearly 20 inches; weight: 10–35 pounds, to 75 pounds

Distribution

Statewide

The eastern snapping turtle is a large aquatic turtle with a big, pointed head, long thick tail, and small lower shell. The upper shell is often covered with mud or algae. The upper part of the tail has large, pointy scales in a sawtooth row. 

The eastern snapping turtle lives in a wide variety of aquatic habitats and when removed from those habitats, will vigorously defend itself. If you must move a large snapper, it is best to consult a wildlife professional. They have strong jaws and long necks. Grasping the turtle by the base of the tail (keeping it away from your legs) is safe, but can potentially injure the turtle’s backbone.

Foods

Eastern snapping turtles help keep populations of many aquatic animals and plants in check. Up to 36 percent of a snapper’s diet consist of plant material. Other items on the menu include insects, crayfish, fish, snails, earthworms, amphibians, snakes, small turtles, small mammals, birds, and even carrion.

Life Cycle

Courtship and mating usually occurs in late spring and early summer, when water temperatures are warm. Females dig out bowl-shaped nests 3–8 inches deep in loose soil or sand and lay eggs from mid-May into June. Clutch sizes ranges from four to more than 100 eggs, with an average of about 25–45.

The eggs are leathery, cream colored, and about the same shape and size as a ping-pong ball. Hatching occurs 55–125 days after the eggs are laid, but on average, most eggs hatch between 75–95 days. These turtles generally have a lifespan of 40 years..

Human Connections

The eastern snapping turtle is considered a game animal and is one of the few economically valuable reptile species in the state. Some people actively pursue this species for its meat, which is reported to make a fine stew and an excellent soup. Make sure you know the current regulations regarding their harvest.