No sympathy from me. These prehistoric beings owned their territories long before we usurped them. Every year they journey to their ancestral birthing grounds, laboriously negotiating whatever new barriers we humans have created, such as multi-lane roads, fences, homes, etc. They operate entirely on their internal maps, which do not include us. They dig pits and lay their eggs - an exhausting process - cover them up, and return to their watery homes, having to re-negotiate the deathtraps we have created.
They may look armored, but they are vulnerable in so many ways. And when injured, they die as slowly as they move, suffering horribly (this according to the dedicated turtle rehabbers I visited at their clinic on Sanibel Island.)
If we encounter turtles of any kind during their spring journeys, we should let them be unless they are in danger, such as crossing a road. ALWAYS assist a turtle in continuing in the direction in which it was headed. Never try to relocate it. They do not "transplant" to new habitats. A snow shovel can be helpful as long as it is used gently so that the softer belly plate is is not damaged. Attempting to pick up a Snapper by its tail will fatally injure it.
Because there are so many predators that find turtle eggs delicious, few will finally hatch and even fewer tiny young will succeed in making the often dangerous journey to their water homes.
Our biggest problem with turtles is that we do not have the mercy or the patience required to let them live at their own speed, following their own ancient paths. End of lecture.
This is all good information. The turtle had been heading toward the water, from my yard, and there is a road in between. I hope I didn't misdirect her.
Snapping turtles are *especially* assholes. Did you not grow up with them? Just a bit east of you, I definitely did. And since we fished a lot, I knew it. (Luckily our fishing methods did not attract larger snappers, and smaller ones are averse enough to being lifted out of the water that they tended to drop the wet fly lure. Though I've discouraged a few more proximately.)
Oh, yes. Many was the time when one of us would pull up a branch or a snapping turtle. I mostly saw box turtles, though. We’d often pull over to carry one across the road so it wouldn’t get hit.
Now, in my twilight years as I have more or less given up on golf, I will have fewer chances to see the large snappers at Westwoods where they enjoy laying eggs in the sand traps. Oh and the town of Farmington has increased fees and thereby tarnished the atmosphere of the blue collar public course!
It is egg-laying season for turtles, so likely this turtle ventured out of the fresh-water lake to do just that! Snapping turtles are not aggressive, but when provoked -- touched -- they become defensive. You're lucky -- just a minor scratch. Their bite can be nasty. If you see one again your best approach, give it space.
I will absolutely do that. My front yard didn't seem like a good place for the turtle, but I understand that she might have made her way where she needed to be without my help.
You were brave to pick it up. The last one I saw sat in the middle of the walkway along the river, was as big as big as a tricycle (in my mind), could probably run 40 mph (in my mind), and could & would snap my leg in half (in my mind). I walked WAY out around it and kept an eye over my shoulder to be sure it didn't come running after me because I, too, believed that turtle was an asshole and might attack at any moment. I admire your courage.
I hope your snapper didn't lay eggs in your yard. You don't need little assholes running around trying to bite your leg off.
Get a long stick and gently prod it on the back legs or shell. They’ll take their cranky time but they’ll move along. There’s a pond not far in Eastford, that’s loaded with them and the backroad that passes by is a regular snapper crossing. It’s not unusual to see people pulled over and out of their car playing turtle wrangler/crossing guard. You see them a lot near water on the rail trails around here which is safe(r) territory for them, in which case you mind your business, they’ll mind theirs.
Paul I believe the method you shared is the most safe for turtle snd humans. I have seen turtle road crossings happen successfully this way quite a few times.
So cool. I agree...if they're in the road, you have to move them in the direction they are going. I have found one too many damaged turtles that were run over. I'm glad that guy stopped and explained how to pick it up correctly. My son works for Park and Rec, and he impressed his co-workers with his ability to pick up a very large Snapper without incurring injury. I've caught a few while fishing, and it's always terrifying when you pull one up from the depths.
Great storytelling. I love the twist ending where you had set me up to expect something cute and sweet. But it is heartwarming to hear you and Mary Ann connecting over turtles.
My mom used to love turtle soup and I seem to recall that snappers were her favorite. Eeewwww. What we do down here near the Everglades to move them- wheelbarrows.
There is a back road in Ashford that even has a 'turtle crossing' sign, yellow and much like a little highway sign. I haven't seen said crossings, yet, but hope for one every time I'm out that way. 🤗
I saw a sign once in the Ashford area (I think) that labeled a road "goat crossing." The farm where the goats lived wasn't sufficiently armed to keep the goats in, and they frequently made a run for it.
Forty some years ago I moved here to my little nature paradise by the pond. At that time Sam the snapping turtle was a 60 pound legend seen by many.
Today we guess Sam weighs in at about 400 pounds give or take. A fee years ago my neighbor down the way created a bit of lake beach and started feeding Sam at dusk and estimated his weight. And added the fact that Sam has invited a companion (perhaps 250-300 pounds) to evening snacks we have updated info. Sam’s shell size? Hmmmm maybe manhole cover equivalent?
I strongly agree with stick prodding and stopping traffic to let them plod to the other side of the road. 😁 Help nature and yourself from bodily harm.
Count me among the impressed. When I was the marketing director at the former children's Museum in West Hartford, there were two formerly wild, large, injured snapping turtles in the wildlife sanctuary in their own enclosure. Only the trained sanctuary staff were allowed to handle them and I was not at all interested in breaking that rule. I did have a good time taking the snakes out (with approval, and they were used to it) for appearances, though!!
When I started working there, I knew I would have to handle the animals for various outreach events. I told them unequivocally, “no snakes!!” In the following weeks, I was pooped upon by adorable chinchillas, and peed upon by blue tongued skinks (both often requested animals for visits).
Upon learning that snakes eat only every couple of weeks, and armed with the knowledge that they would a) not harm me if correctly handled and b) not poop or pee on me, I pulled up my big girl pants and learned how to handle them. Corn snakes and ball pythons mostly, But occasionally, we brought out Stanley, a boa constrictor who was found in the basement of an apartment building in New Britain (thus his name). When I worked there (2010-2012) he was getting close to 15 feet long. I would help to carry Stanley, but I did not want to get too close to his head and left that to the professionals.
In general, I found them quite easy to handle and not at all slimy!
No sympathy from me. These prehistoric beings owned their territories long before we usurped them. Every year they journey to their ancestral birthing grounds, laboriously negotiating whatever new barriers we humans have created, such as multi-lane roads, fences, homes, etc. They operate entirely on their internal maps, which do not include us. They dig pits and lay their eggs - an exhausting process - cover them up, and return to their watery homes, having to re-negotiate the deathtraps we have created.
They may look armored, but they are vulnerable in so many ways. And when injured, they die as slowly as they move, suffering horribly (this according to the dedicated turtle rehabbers I visited at their clinic on Sanibel Island.)
If we encounter turtles of any kind during their spring journeys, we should let them be unless they are in danger, such as crossing a road. ALWAYS assist a turtle in continuing in the direction in which it was headed. Never try to relocate it. They do not "transplant" to new habitats. A snow shovel can be helpful as long as it is used gently so that the softer belly plate is is not damaged. Attempting to pick up a Snapper by its tail will fatally injure it.
Because there are so many predators that find turtle eggs delicious, few will finally hatch and even fewer tiny young will succeed in making the often dangerous journey to their water homes.
Our biggest problem with turtles is that we do not have the mercy or the patience required to let them live at their own speed, following their own ancient paths. End of lecture.
This is all good information. The turtle had been heading toward the water, from my yard, and there is a road in between. I hope I didn't misdirect her.
How would you feel if a giant picked you up under your armpits and started taking you somewhere!
Well, I would feel like being an asshole and I would kick and scratch. I have empathy. And I suppose the language barrier didn’t help.
Sheesh! Thanks Carrie, now you’ve triggered a bunch of suppressed childhood memories. Giants everywhere!
Snapping turtles are *especially* assholes. Did you not grow up with them? Just a bit east of you, I definitely did. And since we fished a lot, I knew it. (Luckily our fishing methods did not attract larger snappers, and smaller ones are averse enough to being lifted out of the water that they tended to drop the wet fly lure. Though I've discouraged a few more proximately.)
Oh, yes. Many was the time when one of us would pull up a branch or a snapping turtle. I mostly saw box turtles, though. We’d often pull over to carry one across the road so it wouldn’t get hit.
Yes, box turtles were and are darlings. I was wary of even those cute tiny snappers, and I am awestruck by your courage in wrangling a big one.
Now, in my twilight years as I have more or less given up on golf, I will have fewer chances to see the large snappers at Westwoods where they enjoy laying eggs in the sand traps. Oh and the town of Farmington has increased fees and thereby tarnished the atmosphere of the blue collar public course!
Aw, bummer.
It is egg-laying season for turtles, so likely this turtle ventured out of the fresh-water lake to do just that! Snapping turtles are not aggressive, but when provoked -- touched -- they become defensive. You're lucky -- just a minor scratch. Their bite can be nasty. If you see one again your best approach, give it space.
I will absolutely do that. My front yard didn't seem like a good place for the turtle, but I understand that she might have made her way where she needed to be without my help.
You were brave to pick it up. The last one I saw sat in the middle of the walkway along the river, was as big as big as a tricycle (in my mind), could probably run 40 mph (in my mind), and could & would snap my leg in half (in my mind). I walked WAY out around it and kept an eye over my shoulder to be sure it didn't come running after me because I, too, believed that turtle was an asshole and might attack at any moment. I admire your courage.
I hope your snapper didn't lay eggs in your yard. You don't need little assholes running around trying to bite your leg off.
Ha. And ha again. I'm told to look for what looks like freshly-dug ground, but that pretty much describes this entire yard.
So... they are everywhere! It'll be like baby snapping turtle cicada season in September!
And you'll have to be looking over your shoulder all the damn time!
This sounds like a horror movie. First it was "The Birds". Then it was "The Bees". And now, coming to a town near you - "The Turtles"!
RUN!!!!!
Carrie has a point.
Get a long stick and gently prod it on the back legs or shell. They’ll take their cranky time but they’ll move along. There’s a pond not far in Eastford, that’s loaded with them and the backroad that passes by is a regular snapper crossing. It’s not unusual to see people pulled over and out of their car playing turtle wrangler/crossing guard. You see them a lot near water on the rail trails around here which is safe(r) territory for them, in which case you mind your business, they’ll mind theirs.
Makes sense.
Paul I believe the method you shared is the most safe for turtle snd humans. I have seen turtle road crossings happen successfully this way quite a few times.
So cool. I agree...if they're in the road, you have to move them in the direction they are going. I have found one too many damaged turtles that were run over. I'm glad that guy stopped and explained how to pick it up correctly. My son works for Park and Rec, and he impressed his co-workers with his ability to pick up a very large Snapper without incurring injury. I've caught a few while fishing, and it's always terrifying when you pull one up from the depths.
They're so heavy!
Great storytelling. I love the twist ending where you had set me up to expect something cute and sweet. But it is heartwarming to hear you and Mary Ann connecting over turtles.
Good for you for doing that!
My mom used to love turtle soup and I seem to recall that snappers were her favorite. Eeewwww. What we do down here near the Everglades to move them- wheelbarrows.
Oh, wow. The Everglades. I’ve seen some of the weirdest and most beautiful things there. It’s another world and entirely in a good way.
As someone who lives in the woods of Willington, I can picture that! We have goat escapee posts on the local Fbook pages all the time!
I love that.
There is a back road in Ashford that even has a 'turtle crossing' sign, yellow and much like a little highway sign. I haven't seen said crossings, yet, but hope for one every time I'm out that way. 🤗
I saw a sign once in the Ashford area (I think) that labeled a road "goat crossing." The farm where the goats lived wasn't sufficiently armed to keep the goats in, and they frequently made a run for it.
Forty some years ago I moved here to my little nature paradise by the pond. At that time Sam the snapping turtle was a 60 pound legend seen by many.
Today we guess Sam weighs in at about 400 pounds give or take. A fee years ago my neighbor down the way created a bit of lake beach and started feeding Sam at dusk and estimated his weight. And added the fact that Sam has invited a companion (perhaps 250-300 pounds) to evening snacks we have updated info. Sam’s shell size? Hmmmm maybe manhole cover equivalent?
I strongly agree with stick prodding and stopping traffic to let them plod to the other side of the road. 😁 Help nature and yourself from bodily harm.
We had that size snapping turtle in a pond out back a few houses ago. It would come up and sun on the bank and we'd marvel at it.
Count me among the impressed. When I was the marketing director at the former children's Museum in West Hartford, there were two formerly wild, large, injured snapping turtles in the wildlife sanctuary in their own enclosure. Only the trained sanctuary staff were allowed to handle them and I was not at all interested in breaking that rule. I did have a good time taking the snakes out (with approval, and they were used to it) for appearances, though!!
Color ME impressed. Snakes!
When I started working there, I knew I would have to handle the animals for various outreach events. I told them unequivocally, “no snakes!!” In the following weeks, I was pooped upon by adorable chinchillas, and peed upon by blue tongued skinks (both often requested animals for visits).
Upon learning that snakes eat only every couple of weeks, and armed with the knowledge that they would a) not harm me if correctly handled and b) not poop or pee on me, I pulled up my big girl pants and learned how to handle them. Corn snakes and ball pythons mostly, But occasionally, we brought out Stanley, a boa constrictor who was found in the basement of an apartment building in New Britain (thus his name). When I worked there (2010-2012) he was getting close to 15 feet long. I would help to carry Stanley, but I did not want to get too close to his head and left that to the professionals.
In general, I found them quite easy to handle and not at all slimy!
Snake skin is really more dry, isn't it?