Snapping Turtles

kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
edited May 19, 2006 in Wildlife
Nothing cute and fuzzy about these guys.

IMG_4423.jpg

Built for battle and almost prehistoric looking.

IMG_4425.jpg

The next shot is just for scale. Note that the larger snapper has left the rock, so this is the smaller one.

IMG_4477_small.jpg

Don't these birds know that snapping turtles will eat them? :uhoh

Thanks for looking.
-joel
Moderator of Landscapes forum
Link to my Smugmug site

Comments

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2006
    Good shots Joel.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • CookieSCookieS Registered Users Posts: 854 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2006
    Yikes I lifted my toes off the floor for those. Nice shots
  • ForeheadForehead Registered Users Posts: 679 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2006
    Circa 1980, Tuttle Creek Reservoir up-dam from Manhattan, Kansas: I had a friend there whose wife picked up one that was over 18 inches in diameter.

    Just to carry it off the lawn and back to the creek, you understand!

    Never mind that it's neck was also about 18 inches long, and it was definitely trying to reach behind its shell to take a snap at her fingers:crazy

    kdog wrote:
    Nothing cute and fuzzy about these guys.

    IMG_4423.jpg

    Built for battle and almost prehistoric looking.

    IMG_4425.jpg

    The next shot is just for scale. Note that the larger snapper has left the rock, so this is the smaller one.

    IMG_4477_small.jpg

    Don't these birds know that snapping turtles will eat them? :uhoh

    Thanks for looking.
    -joel
    Steve-o
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited May 16, 2006
    Thanks Harry and Cookie!

    Regards,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited May 16, 2006
    Forehead wrote:
    Circa 1980, Tuttle Creek Reservoir up-dam from Manhattan, Kansas: I had a friend there whose wife picked up one that was over 18 inches in diameter.

    Just to carry it off the lawn and back to the creek, you understand!

    Never mind that it's neck was also about 18 inches long, and it was definitely trying to reach behind its shell to take a snap at her fingers:crazy
    Really. We used to catch them when I was a kid and see how big of a stick they could crunch. I think the larger one above could probably do some damage to a 2x4. I'm lucky I still have all my body parts.

    Rumor has it there's a huge one in the marsh out behind the pond where I shot these. I may have to go looking for it.

    Thanks for stopping by, Steve.

    Regards,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • evil eggplantevil eggplant Registered Users Posts: 464 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2006
    Ohhh, nice.
    ___________________________________
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  • ysr612ysr612 Registered Users Posts: 148 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2006
    this one is not a snapping turtle it is a red eared slider but I had to post.

    to lazy to stick around to get a really good shot of her.

    69925769-M.jpg
  • CookieSCookieS Registered Users Posts: 854 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2006
    OH I love the slider shot, the ripples and seeing her underwater is really nice! With all the alligator attacks in Fl, Im not snorkeling right now so not hanging down by the river. ( mating season now) I should go take some night shots gator hunting..hmmmmmm
  • ForeheadForehead Registered Users Posts: 679 Major grins
    edited May 19, 2006
    There are two ponds between the cogen/central plant and the rest of the Eisenhower Medical Center campus (Rancho Mirage, CA--well in the desert).
    These ponds are just filled with snappers!
    kdog wrote:
    Really. We used to catch them when I was a kid and see how big of a stick they could crunch. I think the larger one above could probably do some damage to a 2x4. I'm lucky I still have all my body parts.

    Rumor has it there's a huge one in the marsh out behind the pond where I shot these. I may have to go looking for it.

    Thanks for stopping by, Steve.

    Regards,
    -joel
    Steve-o
  • gusgus Registered Users Posts: 16,209 Major grins
    edited May 19, 2006
    Great shots there joel !
    They have found one just near here recently...they went into damage control like crazy. ...last thing we need here is another 'soft tissue' sampling device.
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited May 19, 2006
    evil eggplant wrote:
    Ohhh, nice.

    Thank you, sir!

    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited May 19, 2006
    ysr612 wrote:
    this one is not a snapping turtle it is a red eared slider but I had to post.

    to lazy to stick around to get a really good shot of her.

    69925769-M.jpg

    Interesting. Hadn't heard of one of these before. Is this like a painted turtle?

    Regards,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited May 19, 2006
    gus wrote:
    Great shots there joel !
    They have found one just near here recently...they went into damage control like crazy. ...last thing we need here is another 'soft tissue' sampling device.
    "'soft tissue' sampling device." rolleyes1.gif

    Thanks, Gus.

    Regards,
    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited May 19, 2006
    These guys have a "prehistoric" quality to them and it is wise to steer clear of them. I was putting in a new lawn at a place we bought in the country near a swampy area. One day when I went out to move the sprinkler, one of these snappers was taking a shower! He was about 15" across and 2' long and very pissed that I would interrupt. Thank goodness they don't move more than a foot with any quickness. The branch I teased him with, the one he clammed onto, hardly held his weight while carrying him back to where he belonged.
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