Common Snapping Turtle

Great! Thanks for getting the turtle off the road! Road mortality can be very detrimental to turtle populations (and other animal populations too!). If you do have to pick up a snapping turtle, its best to grab on at the lower back portion of the shell (looks like you are doing a nice job of that in the photo) or by the back legs, and then holding the animal away from you and others nearby. Its best to keep everything away from the head area where he snaps! And holding snappers by their long tails can be damaging to their vertebrae. Nice job Maria!

Yes he was a giant snapper and I was worried about him biting but he wandered out to a very busy highway. I was able to help him on his way without getting bit or causing him a lot of stress. We were also very glad to get him off of and away from that highway!

If that is a snapper, you should not be holding it. it can do serious damage if it bites you!