Snapping Turtle

Although there were three enormous Snapping Turtles sunning along the long island shoreline in Lake Chipican this morning, this relatively small Snapper looked rather prehistoric in it's pose. This Snapper's carapace was perhaps only 6-8 inches long.

Snapping Turtle

Snapping turtles are a very common sight at Killbear Provincial Park.

I observed this snapper for five early mornings in a row and watched her cross the roadway six times this morning before finding an appropriate place to dig a nest.

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.