2013 Nesting Snapping Turtle

Yesterday (16 June) I found this snapping turtle apparently preparing to lay its eggs on the sandy forest road (chemin de Lac Gagnon Est) in Quebec. Seeing she was in danger I put on two deer skin gloves and picked her up with both hands. She hissed but did not bite. She tried to free herself with her legs. I put her down in some nice green vegetation, about 50 feet from some water in a marsh. Later in the day she had disappeared. The shell was about 13 inches long and I'd guess the weight at 20 pounds or more. Later in the day i found another, right in the middle of the road and very active,head in the air. I had to carry this fellow a longer distance to safety. She attempted to bite several times with lightening speed and came within inches of my hands. I was careful to put her down and remove my hands quickly.

 Here in Ontario we have the same situation at this time of year.  Turtles find the loose gravel at the side of roadways irresistible as places to dig and bury their eggs. Sadly many are killed by cars. In my area there has recently been some experimenting going on with constructing low wire mesh fencing near stretches of roadway which run through or along side of swamps. These in conjunction with small underpasses below the road are hoped to divert nesting turtles and other migrating reptiles from the road. I regularly stop and move turtles from local roads at this time of year. I am glad to know that you do likewise.