Snapping Turtle

Description:

Upper shell is tan, brown, black or olive gray with three ridges, called keels. Long tail with jagged saw-toothed ridges. 8-20" shell length, 8-35 lbs average. -NYDEC

Habitat:

Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, marshes throughout New York, particularly in slow moving, shallow waters with a muddy bottom. One of the most adaptable reptiles in New York, they are even found in urban waterways. Females move to upland nesting locations predominantly in the early morning or early evening. The preferred nesting locations are within 100 feet of the water and typically occur in sandy or loamy soils, making backyard gardens a frequent nesting location. Where water temperatures are cooler, animals may sometimes be found perched atop rocks that provide easy access back into the water. -NYDEC

Notes:

This turtle was found on the lawn of Montgomery Place on the Hudson River.