Handling Snapping Turtles, Chelydra serpentina, and Other Large Turtles
I have worked with a number of quite calm captives that showed no propensity for biting, but all are capable, and feeding accidents are always a possibility. Never put your hands in the vicinity of a snapper’s head, even for a moment - believe me, you will not be able to avoid the strike! The injuries resulting from a bite can be severe or even disabling. This is a species to observe, not handle.
Nesting female snapping turtles are sometimes encountered on roads. When helping in this situation, use the technique described below, and always move the animal in its intended direction of travel.
Small turtles can be lifted by grasping the rear of the carapace (upper shell). Larger animals will use their powerful rear legs to dislodge your hands if you attempt to do this. Be aware also that the long neck can reach almost to the very rear of the carapace (upper shell).
To lift a large snapper, approach it from the rear and slide your hand along the carapace until you reach the edge, just above the head. This looks dangerous, and the turtle’s head will be pressed against your fingers, but it will not be able to bite you. Support the rear of the turtle with your other hand. Do not lift snappers by their tails, as is often done – this will cause severe injuries to the spine and internal organs. The accompanying photo shows me grasping a large alligator snapping turtle in a safe manner. Prior to lifting the turtle (quite a chore as this old fellow weighs 206 pounds!) I will slide my hand over a bit so as to center it directly above the head.
I have used this method to move scores of large, aggressive turtles of many species – alligator snappers, Malaysian river turtles (Batagur baska), Nile soft-shelled turtles and others. Soft-shelled turtles do not offer much in the way of space at the edge of the carapace – practice with other species is required before tackling one of these ill-tempered fellows.
Please forward your own thoughts and experiences. Thanks, until next time, Frank.
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September 14th, 2009 at 9:07 am
My Common Snapper looked like it was pushing it’s insides from it’s anal area, when it noticed me watching it retracted it. What was that! and should I be worried?
September 14th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Hello Shawn, Frank Indiviglio here.
Thanks for your interest in our blog.
What you’ve observed is undoubtedly the male sexual organ, known in reptiles as the hemipene, and not a concern unless the turtle is unable to retract it (which is rare). It looks like something that should not be distended from the body, but all turtles possess somewhat unusually shaped organs.
The hemipene is normally everted/extended to allow for internal fertilization of the female during copulation. However, male turtle often evert the hemipene in non-sexual situations, and will do so even before becoming sexually mature. In snappers, I have seen this begin at age 14 months or so. In herps, it seems that the almost any type of stimulation can cause the hemipene to be everted…it often occurs when the turtle is picked up and turned over, or during feeding, or, as you observed, for no apparent reason (well, none that we can imagine!). Frogs grab other individuals in amplexus, the mating embrace, when being fed – there seems to be common “wiring” for stimulation of all types!
One thing to bear in mind is cleanliness and water quality – any time an internal organ is exposed, there is an increased chance of fungal/bacterial/viral attack.
Good luck and please keep me posted.
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Hi Frank — thanks for the good info! I encountered what I believe to be a nesting female snapping turtle on a bike path near the Humber River (Toronto, Canada) today. We quickly decided it was not a good idea to move her, so we drizzled her with water — which she drank — and continued on. I hope she got where she was going, but if I see her again I will attempt your technique for moving them, and move her in her intended direction of travel.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Hello Lindsay, Frank Indiviglio here.
Thanks for your interest in our blog. Nice to hear of your concern for the turtle.
Actually, snappers are very regular in their breeding, with all gravid females laying eggs within the space of a week or so. This occurs on rainy nights in the spring – here in NY, they lay during the first week in June. In Canada it might be a week or so later, but as far as I know none of our local turtles lay in the fall.
Most of the snappers that I have encountered on land, outside of the breeding season, have been males displaced by larger males, and forced to re-locate. It might be possible that snappers leave their summer homes for alternate hibernation sites – some turtles do that, but I have seen any reports of this behavior in snappers. They are very good at sensing water from far off, so I’m sure the turtle found its way.
Thanks again and please keep me posted on any other sightings,
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.