A snapshot of a snapper

The common snapping turtle is fairly well known by most people in the area that the animal is native to.

However, during most of the year it is seldom seen despite the adults growing to a rather large size, and there being hardly any body of brackish or fresh water - even in some cases salt - where there are not some snapping turtles of various ages living at any given time.

This lack if a sighting is due to the animal spending most of its time in the water.  

Even when thermo regulating, the turtles typically bask in the sun on the water’s surface rather than coming out onto surface debris as many other turtle species will do. Doing much of its hunting at night and most of it by smell, the snapping turtle is an efficient predator of various aquatic creatures and the carnivorous tendencies of the adults have been known to extend to such things as small mammals birds snakes, other turtles and more.

However scavenging on already dead and decaying carcasses as well as consuming a variety of aquatic plants as well as some fruit and acorns is equally common for this species.

  When people do encounter this species at least for any length of time is when the animals are searching out new territories or females are going to or coming from egg laying sites. This occurs most often during the late spring early summer months.

On land is when people are most likely to see how the snapping turtle got its name.

 Like most animals when approached by something much larger than itself its first reaction will be to flee and even when no water is available these turtles are efficient walkers when necessary. If cornered the turtle will defend itself violently, hissing loudly and stretching its neck towards the threat as it snaps with its sharp beak producing an audible pop.

 With this being said, these animals are best observed from a distance and allowed to go their way and then they pose no threat to humans whatsoever.