My main focus is birds but I occasionally post about a non-feathered subject. Turtles are a favorite of mine and I have even done some work with turtle paleontology. And this Common Snapping Turtle sure looks like it stepped out of the Cretaceous! But I spotted her more recently as she was apparently returning to her pond after laying her eggs somewhere on the opposite side of the trail. The Common Snapping Turtle is not as large as its cousin the Alligator Snapping Turtle, but it is the largest turtle in my part of the country. The largest ones typically have a carapace (upper shell) about 18 inches (46 cm) long. This one was close to, if not at, that size.
I hurried to get a closer look before she went into the water. She stopped in a small wet area next to the pond and stared at me. Snappers are not particularly afraid of humans and she seemed more curious than anything else.
I guess she wasn’t all that interested in photography. She got bored and continued on her way to the main body of water.
Despite the fierce look and reputation, these turtles are no threat to humans. They are not even known to bother swimmers and opt to just find a quiet spot when humans are around. The only danger arises when a human gets too close or tries to handle the turtle. Contrary to folklore, the Common Snapping Turtle doesn’t amputate fingers. (The much larger Alligator Snapping Turtle is another matter.) But they can give a nasty bite that can develop a serious infection. Everything is fine as long as you give them their space. Photos are good. Selfies aren’t.
Birds in My Viewfinder 