Snapping Turtle

 

In celebration of Earth Day.

The prehistoric looking Snapping Turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in Canada.

They inhabit almost any freshwater habitat including small wetlands, ponds and ditches.

In Ontario females do not begin to breed until they are 17 to 19 years old and a single clutch usually consists of between 40 and 50 eggs in a sandy soil nest.

They feed on various aquatic plants and invertebrates, as well as fish, frogs, snakes, and aquatic birds.

Adult Snapping Turtles have few natural enemies and adults normally live up to 70 years in the wild. ( Ontario Nature )

We have had many encounters with snapping turtles on our hikes and canoe trips through the years and have been fortunate to observe mating a half dozen times. This image is from Canatara Park, Sarnia.

I always loved this image. I loved that it made you look closely to see what it was all about, the reflections, the soft colours, and that it was nature, pure and simple.