Common Snapping Turtle

Description:

This big girl was on her way out from wherever she had been hibernating to the pond where she normally resides. She clearly had a nice muddy area for the winter. Large turtle with a smooth shell (covered in mud in the images). She has long, sharp claws and a sharp beak. These turtles spend most of their time in the water and feed on any prey small enough to capture and subdue such as fish, frogs and other prey (including ducklings in some places). They come out of the water in the fall to hibernate and females will come out

Habitat:

Suburban neighborhood with areas of woodland, marsh and streams.