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North American Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

Identification A young snapping turtle walks along the edge of a road. There is green grass and forbs in the background. Photo by Ian Clark. (All photos on this site are © copyright to the photographer and used by permission.)

The North American Snapping Turtle is probably the most common turtle in Vermont. The carapace (shell covering the back) is shallowly domed with a strongly toothed posterior margin (see photo below). The plastron (shell covering the belly) is narrow, leaving the turtle’s flesh always partially exposed. It is uniformly grayish brown with no colorful markings, spots, or stripes.  It is often covered in algae, giving it the nickname moss back.

The North American Snapping Turtle can get quite large. The upper shells of adults range from 10-18 inches long. The young have three keels that disappear with age and wear. They have a long tail that has spines along the top. They also have a long neck.

When out of the water, North American Snapping Turtles are defensive. To prevent injury to yourself, you should stay out of reach of their long necks and strong jaws. When in the water, they try to avoid humans. Learn more about how we safely handle North American Snapping Turtles to move them across the road on our YouTube channel.

Get more detailed identification and life history information by downloading the chart here.

You can learn more about this species and see some video footage by checking out this short clip or this longer clip about nesting turtles from our Rattlers, Peepers & Snappers DVD. Find answers to some frequently asked questions about turtle nesting, what to do if a turtle nests on your property, and how to protect turtle nests at this link.

Range/Habitat
Records in Vermont of Chelydra serpentina (North American Snapping Turtle)

[ click image to zoom | download printable PDF ]

North American Snapping Turtles live in still or slow-moving bodies of water, particularly those with soft bottoms and emergent vegetation, such as cattails. The females leave the water in May and June to lay their eggs on land.

Status

This species has a state natural heritage rank of S5 (common). Please report sightings of this species in Vermont if you have not reported them within the last five years from a given location. Any natural history observations (feeding, migrations, road crossing areas, early or late season appearance, abnormalities, etc.) are appreciated. Photographs are always helpful, particularly if your report is the first report of this species from a town.

Additional Photos

An adult snapping turtle with its head partially withdrawn into its shell faces the camera at a slight angle. Its left forefoot is clearly visible, showing it's5 claws. Photo by George Ouellette. (All photos on this site are © copyright to the photographer and used by permission.)  The tail of a snapping turtle and the back edge of its carapace show the points at the back and serrated ridge on the tail. Photo by T. Thurston. (All photos on this site are © copyright to the photographer and used by permission.)  A snapping turtle is climbing or attempting to climb over the metal rail of a train track. It's left forefoot is spread, showing the webbing.  A snapping turtle on a road or gravel surface. The turtle is facing to the left, with its head partially withdrawn. It is standing tall on all four feet. Although its tail still touches the ground; the plastron does not. Photo by George Ouellette. (All photos on this site are © copyright to the photographer and used by permission.) A young adult smiles at the camera while lifting a large adult snapping turtle carefully by its hind legs. The turtle has lifted its head to look at the photopher. Another person is partly visible behind the one holding the turtle. Both people are wearing rain gear and standing on green grasses or sedge. A channel of water is visible in the background. Photo by Chris Slesar. (All photos on this site are © copyright to the photographer and used by permission.)  A snapping turtle is at her nest on mud. The back edge of the turtle's carapace and tail of the turtle are at the top of the photo. A hole with at least 13 eggs in it is in the lower half of the image. Photo by Carl Meyer. (All photos on this site are © copyright to the photographer and used by permission.)  A baby snapping turtle is held in a human hand. The turtle's length is about half the width of the hand. The turtle is looking at the photographer. Photo by P. Demicks. (All photos on this site are © copyright to the photographer and used by permission.)   Dorsal view of dead Snapping Turtle.

More Info

Species summary written by Ariel K. McK. Burgess.

How to Help a North American Snapping Turtle Cross The Road

Lifting the turtle by the base of the hind legs works very well, but many people are wary of trying it.  North American Snapping Turtles do have a dangerous bite and you should remember that their neck can reach just short of the length of their shells.  Approach the turtle from behind and keep your hands low.  Wrap your hands around the very base of the hind legs with the turtle facing up and away from you (see above photo and video below).  They will resist at first with their very powerful legs and claws, but once your hands are in position, it is an easy and safe way to carry all but the very heaviest turtles.

If you are uncomfortable with this method of lifting a North American Snapping Turtle, other potential methods to move a turtle off the road can be seen in the video below.

Video from the Toronto Zoo YouTube channel.