Common snapping turtles rarely venture far from water. Unfortunately, however, when the time of year comes for laying eggs, females don’t have much choice but to venture onto dry land. This girl was seeking a cozy place to lay her eggs. Aptly-named for their powerful beaks, snappers often lay underwater, completely still.
They away passing fish, frogs, are just about any other creature small enough to swallow.
Like a trap, when the jaws close, there is no escape!
When appreciating or helping a snapping turtle across the road, always be mindful of those powerful jaws!
Photographed at John Heintz NWR, PA, USA.
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