ebinmaine 67,420 #1 Posted June 1 BBT learned yet another skill set yesterday. Turtle Catcher. She was headed towards working on the garden and noticed this wee beastie 🐢 sunning on a rock. 🪨 Well we want a frog 🐸 pond. Not a 🐢 pond. She found an old butterfly net we had laying around. The turtle was not super interested in visiting at first. It would plop in the pond whenever Trina got near. After she tried a few times it was less nervous and she was able to just stick the end of the net in the water and the turtle came right over to check it out. She set the little creature in a 5 gallon bucket and relocated it to the swap out back. 5 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,834 #2 Posted June 1 Snapper turtle? They sure look dino ish… 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,420 #3 Posted June 1 6 minutes ago, Pullstart said: Snapper turtle? They sure look dino ish… Yessuh 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cafoose 3,354 #4 Posted June 1 This was coming up my driveway last week 20240519_102949.mp4 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,420 #5 Posted June 1 3 minutes ago, cafoose said: This That's the slightly larger sized model. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,814 #6 Posted June 1 We get alot of snappers that come out of the river 100 yards away to lay eggs this time of year. Most won't fit in a five gallon bucket. Trouble is coons raid the nests so gotta keep after them. Odd thing is beginning of May lots of half dollar sized little ones all over the yard. A little early for a hatch. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,420 #7 Posted June 1 1 minute ago, WHX?? said: river 100 yards away That's the part that gets me puzzled. We have several small mountain runoff streams but the nearest body of water with any size is miles away. Even the swamp where it's at now is a good 1/2 mile out. I've seen many painted or wood turtles away from water but never a snappy. This little bugger had to travel a ways from stream or puddle to stream or puddle to find our place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
midpack 862 #8 Posted June 1 We get them in our stream in Maine. These kids just reached in and grabbed one. This pic was taken from my yard 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,814 #9 Posted June 1 10 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: several small mountain runoff streams I guess they can live anywhere as long as there is food and a place to burrow in the mud for the winter. Snapper diet is mostly dead fish on bottoms but they like the occasional coon... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 55,188 #10 Posted June 1 The creek that runs through our property goes through a large culvert when it reaches the road. Turtles don't seem to want to go into the culvert so it is not unusual to see one crossing the road. Fortunately for them we are at the end of a dead-end road so there is no traffic and they can cross in relative safety. I have picked up several of them and carried them to the side of the road only to see them turn around and head back where they came from. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,534 #11 Posted June 1 18 minutes ago, WHX?? said: Snapper diet is mostly dead fish on bottoms but they like the occasional coon... or the occasional @ebinmaine when the frying pan doesn't work and the BBT gets fed up with his antics... 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,814 #12 Posted June 1 7 minutes ago, 953 nut said: so there is no traffic Unfortunately not ours but surprisingly seldom see any road kills even tho they dig their nests in the gravel on the shoulder. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,814 #13 Posted June 1 Got a new shop dog today... 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Streetrodchev 798 #14 Posted June 1 This snapper is about 60 lbs. IMG_4438.mov IMG_4442.mov 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,534 #16 Posted June 1 Wow!!! That sized snapper easily take a small finger... Odd behavior for snapper... Pet? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Streetrodchev 798 #17 Posted June 1 6 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said: Wow!!! That sized snapper easily take a small finger... Odd behavior for snapper... Pet? Yes, a pet. The guy found it when it was the size of a nickel, 31 years ago. It has been around people all the time, and goes to the vet as needed and to get its claws trimmed (claws have put a few holes into clothing). It has never snapped at anyone. 1 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites