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Sam the Snapping Turtle |
Share Sam the Snapping Turtle's Story
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 | | I'm sponsored! Special thanks to Robin and her birthday party guests |
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Born: |
Sept. 8, 1996 |
| Sex: |
Male |
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Sam was acquired Sept. 10, 1996. Sam's mother laid her eggs in the sand at a construction site. When the workers started digging, up came the eggs. Afraid they would not survive, the workers gathered up the eggs and took them to a pet store, where they were put into an incubator. A couple of the eggs hatched (Sam and his sibling Ella) but since it is illegal for a pet store to have or sell Snapping Turtles in Ontario, Sam and Ella were given to us a few days after hatching. Sam and Ella could not be housed together, so now Ella lives at another education centre, teaching people as well. Sam was handled since he was young therefore he can now be taken out by our staff in order to help demonstrate how to safely move a snapper. |
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Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) |
| Average Size: |
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Average Weight: |
| 20-49 cm (8-19 in) |
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4.5 - 34 kg (10-75 lbs) |
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| Average Lifespan: |
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Range: |
| up to 57 years in captivity |
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Found in Central or Southern Ontario |
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Dining and Dwelling |
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Life and Death |
The snapping turtle is largely carnivorous, taking fish (such as carp and catfish), insects, crustaceans and other small animals that it can catch. Aquatic vegetation also forms a portion of their diet. The snapper is found in large bodies of water, both lakes and rivers, but may also be found in marshes and ponds. |
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The snapper lays its eggs in the summer in soft earth or in sand on sandy beaches, railroads and road beds. There are usually from 20 to 30 eggs in a clutch, although as many as 80 have been recorded. Hatching usually occurs in late August or September. Many adult female snapping turtles are killed every year, during the egg laying season, on our roads and highways. Also, the feeding habits of snappers are often the cause of death, they are killed by humans because they consume young game fish and waterfowl. |
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That's Amazing |
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