common snapping turtle

Common

Lakes, ponds and marshes, streams and rivers

30 to 47 years

8″ to 18″

This is the largest turtle species in Minnesota. The tail is almost as long as the upper shell (carapace).

Opportunistic feeders. Plant matter, carrion, and any living thing.

Conservation Status
High levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found in common snapping turtles in the Mississippi River in 1983. In 1984 the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) listed it as a special concern species. In 2013 it was removed from the list.

Subspecies
Three subspecies have been described in the past. Two have been raised to full species and the third is now considered a synonym. There are currently no subspecies recognized.

This Common Snapping Turtle was sun bathing on rocks across from the docks in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Its' head was up when I approcahed the dock then it lowered it then raised it again it seemed to ejoy the warm sunny day.

Snapping Turtle...

I came across this snapping turtle on a county highway between Twin Valley and Ada, Mn. on May 28, 2019. It just sat on the road and I seen a couple vehicles go around it. I pulled into an approach and decided to try get it off the road so it wouldn’t get ran over. I figured it could possibly be a female heading to a certain spot to lay its eggs. Though not sure. Anyway all the while watching for any vehicles coming I gave a slight nudge to the turtle near its tail end. I just tried to slowly turn around toward me. I knew not to try pick one up and not having any luck getting it to move looked in the ditch and found a sturdy stick. I still had a time getting it off the road and at times pushed it a little with the stick. Anyway got it off the road into the ditch it was heading to. Snapping turtles kind of remind me of a reptile of back in the dinosaur days.

Sunning itself.

Fort Snelling State Park. On the trail along the west side of Snelling Lake; I gave it a wide berth.

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

This Common Snapping Turtle was sun bathing on rocks across from the docks in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. Its' head was up when I approcahed the dock then it lowered it then raised it again it seemed to ejoy the warm sunny day.

Location: Esko, MN. My driveway near Midway River and Midway Creek.

Sunning itself.

Location: between Twin Valley and Ada, Mn

I came across this snapping turtle on a county highway between Twin Valley and Ada, Mn. on May 28, 2019. It just sat on the road and I seen a couple vehicles go around it. I pulled into an approach and decided to try get it off the road so it wouldn’t get ran over. I figured it could possibly be a female heading to a certain spot to lay its eggs. Though not sure. Anyway all the while watching for any vehicles coming I gave a slight nudge to the turtle near its tail end. I just tried to slowly turn around toward me. I knew not to try pick one up and not having any luck getting it to move looked in the ditch and found a sturdy stick. I still had a time getting it off the road and at times pushed it a little with the stick. Anyway got it off the road into the ditch it was heading to. Snapping turtles kind of remind me of a reptile of back in the dinosaur days.

Location: east shore of Clark Lake, Nisswa

30' up on a bluff above water's edge. 1 and 3/8" shell length, no sign of where it came from.

Location: Rice Creek North Regional Corridor, east of Prairie Ridge Dr. where Rice Creek Fields lead to Rice Creek

total of 4 approximately 1 inch snapping turtles observed 9/10 and 9/11 on black top walk path. Slightly sand covered and headed toward Rice Creek.

Location: Fort Snelling State Park

On the trail along the west side of Snelling Lake; I gave it a wide berth.

Location: Inver Grove Heights

Location: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Bass Ponds in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge