Snapping Turtles

kdog · May 15, 2006

Nothing cute and fuzzy about these guys.

Built for battle and almost prehistoric looking.

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

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

Thanks for looking.
-joel

Harryb · May 15, 2006

Good shots Joel.

CookieS · May 15, 2006

Yikes I lifted my toes off the floor for those. Nice shots

Forehead · 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.

Built for battle and almost prehistoric looking.

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

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

Thanks for looking.
-joel

kdog · May 16, 2006

Thanks Harry and Cookie!

Regards,
-joel

kdog · 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

evil eggplant · May 16, 2006

Ohhh, nice.

ysr612 · 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.

CookieS · 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

Forehead · 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

gus · 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.

kdog · May 19, 2006

evil eggplant wrote:

Ohhh, nice.

Thank you, sir!

-joel

kdog · 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.

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

Regards,
-joel

kdog · 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."

Thanks, Gus.

Regards,
-joel

Ric Grupe · 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.

Snapping Turtles

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