Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) male

Straight Carapace Length (SCL) = 9"
Carapace Width = 7"
Weight = 11 lbs
Gender = male
Named: Kujo
Comments:
   - powerful male, estimated age 5 years old, in Hartford, KY

   - taken while loping across yard, ca. 3-Jun-06

   - measured, photographed, and released at remote lake on 8-Jun-06

   - note photos that demonstrate proper, safe holding technique:
     • use gloved hands to improve grip and protect from claws
     • grasp carapace (upper shell) firmly just forward of hind legs
     • keep your face and everyone else's body parts well away from the turtle's head

   - never pick a Snapping Turtle up by the tail:
     • likely to cause severe injury
     • causes extreme stress and agitation in Snapping Turtles and all others
     • they don't like being held upside down, anyway
 
 

He didn't need for me to draw him a picture when I set him down on the ground next to the lake ...		... he didn't look to the left or to the right ...  he just BARGED into the water!