Welcome to our blog post about discovering a snapping turtle in your yard! Have you ever found a giant, intriguing turtle lounging in your garden with a powerful beak-like jaw?
This unexpected visitor is likely a snapping turtle, known for its distinctive features and behavior.
In this post, we’ll explore why these fascinating creatures wander into yards, how to identify them, and what steps you should take if you find one in your backyard. Join us as we dive into the world of snapping turtles and their surprising visits to our outdoor spaces!
Keep Your Calm And Let The Turtle Play
The first thing to do if you spot a snapping turtle in your yard is to remain calm. Snapping turtles may look intimidating with their sharp beaks and long, flexible necks, but they are not out to get humans. Their defensive bites are mainly reserved for actual predators trying to eat them.
If the snapping turtle seems content wandering around and inspecting your yard, it’s best to just let it be for now. Think of the snapping turtle as an unusual guest just passing through. Avoid getting too close or making loud noises that could startle it.
Most snapping turtles that end up in backyards simply get lost while searching for a place to dig a nest and lay eggs.
If wandering into a yard is a case of mistaken identity, the turtle will eventually realize the yard’s unsuitability for nesting and continue its quest elsewhere. No need to panic!
What Should You Do If Snapping Turtle Lays Eggs In Your Yard?
If you notice a snapping turtle excavating a nest and depositing eggs, congratulations – you’ve been chosen as a suitable nesting ground!
It’s best not to disturb a nesting mother turtle. Once she is done burying her ping pong ball-sized white eggs and covering up the nest, she’ll make her way back to permanent waters.
Save The Future Babies
Though it may seem appealing to let nature take its course, there is an extremely slim chance baby snapping turtles will survive emerging from a yard nest. Between predation, lawnmowers, and other suburban barriers, these tiny reptiles face long odds.
To maximize survival, carefully dig up the freshly laid eggs once the mama turtle leaves and rebury them in a safe place like an adjacent garden bed.
Then remember the spot so you can later watch adorable hatchlings emerge! Moving the eggs requires diligence since baby turtles start developing fast.
If transporting eggs feels too tricky, another option is to hire trained wildlife handlers to move the nest.
Call Animal Rescue
As an alternative to relocating eggs yourself, calling a wildlife rehabilitation organization is an intelligent choice.
Licensed experts can decide the most ethical course of action, whether it’s safely moving eggs to a “turtle garden” or leaving nests with protective barriers in place. This route ensures proper care while following regulations.
Snapping Turtle In Yard: What Not To Do?
While snapping turtles don’t intend to harm people, moving them incorrectly or restricting their movement can trigger aggressive self-defense reactions with severe consequences. To safely coexist with a visiting turtle, here are key things to avoid:
1. Do Not Disturb The Snapping Turtle
Most importantly, do not intentionally prod, poke, or otherwise disturb a wandering snapper. Their powerful jaws can amputate fingers and toes faster than the eye can see.
Even gentle giants get provoked when feeling threatened. Let the turtle carry on undisturbed instead.
2. Do Not Throw The Snapping Turtle In A Water Body
Catching and releasing the turtle in the nearest pond seems like an easy solution, but it can actually harm resident turtle populations by introducing foreign diseases.
Plus, abandoning the confused guest won’t help it get home. Leaving be or calling experts are the best policies.
3. Do Not Change The Direction
It’s also not wise to physically herd the snapping turtle or restrict its movement by blocking pathways. Altering its wandering course will only agitate our easily startled friend! Again, give space and allow safe passage.
4. Do Not Welcome The Snapping Turtle Home
No matter how fascinating a visitor is, inviting snapping turtles to permanently reside in your yard or home is highly unwise.
These solitary creatures require room to roam and special care only professionals can provide. Getting attached puts all parties in a difficult position, including feeling pressure to keep wild pets against regulations. Leave wildlife in the wild!
How To Pick Up A Snapping Turtle?
Ok, so you ignored all advice and absolutely must move the snapping turtle. While highly inadvisable, if relocation is urgent, take extreme care when handling it.
First, wear thick gloves, protective clothing, and eyewear so flailing limbs can’t injure you. Grip the turtle’s upper rear shell firmly with two hands, then lift steadily away from your body.
Support the heavy underside at all times. For prominent individuals over 40 pounds, slide a stiff board gently underneath, then carry the board.
Work swiftly, as dangling upside down stresses turtles. Make sure to place the turtle down safely. This advice is for emergency use only! Letting certified handlers manage the move is best.
What Does It Mean When You See A Snapping Turtle?
Beyond reminding us that untamed nature still exists around suburban homes, snapping turtle sightings symbolically represent finding inner wisdom.
Like their long-lived species passing down knowledge through generations, observing a wild reptile prompts introspection about living harmoniously. The snapping turtle’s appearance signifies a chance to slow down and consider our spiritual alignment.
Are Snapping Turtles A Nuisance?
While surprise turtle encounters spark excitement for some nature lovers, others view snappers as frightening pests invading idyllic lawns.
In truth, occasional wanderers are not nuisances but rather excellent signs of lingering native wildlife. As humans increasingly dominate landscapes, preserving biodiversity requires coexistence. There are simple steps residents can take to allow turtle movement through yards safely.
We must remember snapping turtles existed here long before suburbia, so spotting them crossing our artificial domains now and then is only natural.
Their ancestors swam alongside dinosaurs! By respecting modern-day snapping turtles as embodiments of our land’s wild essence, we sustain balance.
Our capacity to peacefully adapt reveals our commitment to a harmonious world where man and beast dignify one another.
Conclusion
Having a snapping turtle visit your yard can certainly get your heart racing! But rather than panicking, see the encounter as an opportunity to safely admire nature’s majesty. Follow proper procedures, call experts when needed, and treat the turtle as an honored guest.
Soon enough, it will stroll away on ancient legs, disappearing as mysteriously as it arrived. It’s just another story showing we still share space with wildlife wandering through the cracks of civilization.
Here are four frequently asked questions about snapping turtles in yards:
What do snapping turtles eat?
Snapping turtles are omnivores. They eat plants, fish, insects, small mammals, and even carrion. In yards, they might be attracted to food sources like small pond fish or pet food.
How can I tell if a turtle in my yard is a snapping turtle?
Snapping turtles have a distinctive rugged shell, a long tail, and a beak-like jaw. They are usually larger than other turtles you might find in your yard.
Is it safe to handle a snapping turtle in my yard?
It’s best not to handle a snapping turtle as they can bite and have a long reach. If you need to move one, it’s safer to use a shovel to gently scoop it up from behind, avoiding its powerful jaws.
What should I do if I find a snapping turtle in my yard?
Often, snapping turtles just pass through. If it’s not in immediate danger, it’s best to leave it alone. Ensure it’s not a threat to pets or small children, and it will likely move on by itself.
