Upon returning home one day and checking my mail, I was greeted by a snapping turtle. Either the mail carrier couldn’t get him in my mailbox or he was displaced by the mowing of the roadside ditches that had occurred that day.
Hmmm. It was hot and his mud-covered shell was drying out. What to do? We looked each other over and thought about our options.
So, I called to my son, that has only a few weeks before he begins his career as a middle school science teacher. Verrry quietly and quite stealthily, he sneaked up behind Mr. Snapper.
Imagine the surprise!
Hey, it’s better than getting ran over by the cars and trucks that fly past our house! “But wait!” I said! What does his belly look like?
Okay. Science lesson satisfied. Off to the ditch for you.
Happy Snappy.
I guess, he’s happy. I didn’t notice his expression changing one time throughout this encounter.
Hope your mail brings more than bills!
Just Make the Coffee 
He needs to invest in some new mud flaps, poor dude.
That’s a big turtle!! We’ve stopped to help several SMALL box turtles across the highways these past couple of months. I’d probably have to go get a shovel to move THAT one!
A shovel would have been the safer option; but you know how men are!?
That snapping critter would probably scare your bills away.
Unfortunately, the bills were in the mailbox. Darn it! Even a guard-turtle didn’t help. 😉
Lili did an Arts and Science in the Woods camp this summer. On the last day of camp, parents were invited to come and see what their kids had been doing all week. After checking out Lili’s group, we went to check out the reptile and amphibians group and I learned how to pick up and hold a snapping turtle. Because their necks will reach to the middle of their backs, you shouldn’t pick them up in the middle. Instead, grab them by the shell by their back legs. They can’t reach you and can easily be moved. Not that this matters now, but you should never pick up a turtle by the tail. The tail is attached to the spine and can injure or break their spines when the tail is pulled.
And that is your snapping turtle lesson for today 🙂
My son knew that they can stretch and turn their necks to reach you if picked up by the shell … but we didn’t know the back of the shell was in the “safe” zone. Good to know in case another comes visiting. Personally, I would use a shovel!
So glad he was saved from squooshing, (and your son’s fingers are all intact, he’ll need those to correct papers)
Ah, yes, imagine the science teacher explaining scars/stitches … or worse!
Why did you want to look at his belly? Curiosity?
Yep. Not every day you get to look at a snapping turtle’s belly!
Nice to be able to rescue the little guy and put him somewhere safe 🙂
Yes, it was. My country road gets a lot of traffic before and after work hours. I don’t think his shell would have protected him from that! Thanks for reading.
“Wait what does his belly look like?”
Haha – too funny.
I think my son sighed/groaned at that point! 😉
And you happened to have the camera in hand. 🙂 Maybe it was having a mud-pack treatment.
Hi there,
Thank you for moving the turtle. I just wanted to let you know if you need to move another it is best not to pick them up by the tail since that can actually break their spine. Anyways pick up from the rear of the shell or do not use your hands and try scooping into a container or transporting with a shovel etc.
Thank you for that information. We learned that from other sources later, too. Now we know, if we ever have to move one again. 🙂