How to Pick Up a Snapping Turtle? The Most Effective Way to Handle Them
Whether you live in a rural or urban area, you may run into an injured or abandoned snapping turtle. These fascinating reptiles are large and powerful, making them potentially dangerous to handle. Fortunately, it’s easy to learn how to pick up a snapping turtle.
To pick up a snapping turtle, approach it slowly and calmly from the rear. Grasp the back of the shell with both hands, using your thumbs to hold the turtle’s tail down. Keep your fingers away from its head and be mindful of its sharp beak and claws.
These turtles can be dangerous if not handled correctly, so it’s crucial to handle them with care and caution.
What is the Proper Way to Handle a Snapping Turtle?
If you want to pick up a snapping turtle—Don’t! These turtles don’t enjoy being held, and it can even be dangerous for you to try, as they have sharp beaks and claws that can cause injury or infection.
If you truly feel you need to pick up a snapping turtle, approach them slowly and calmly. Be aware of their sharp beak and claws. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to handle a snapping turtle safely:
Step 1: Locate the Turtle
Look for a snapping turtle in a pond or other body of water. Approach it slowly and calmly from the rear.
Step 2: Prepare Yourself
Ensure you wear gloves and long sleeves to protect yourself from the turtle’s sharp claws and beaks. They are powerful creatures that can easily bite through your gloves and potentially damage your hands. So, be cautious!
Step 3: Grasp the Turtle
Hold the turtle by the back of the shell using both hands, using your thumbs to hold the turtle’s tail down. Keep your fingers away from its head.
Step 4: Hold the Turtle Securely
Keep a firm grip on the turtle and make sure it’s not able to wiggle free. If the turtle is particularly large or active, you may want to use a towel to cover its head and keep it calm.
Step 5: Transport the Turtle
Carefully carry the turtle to a safe location, such as a nearby pond or lake.
Step 6: Release the Turtle
Release the turtle back into the water and ensure it can swim away safely.
How to Avoid Being Bitten by a Snapping Turtle
If you see a snapping turtle in the water, it’s not likely to approach you. They’re large and heavy and not exactly nimble. So they don’t typically chase prey and don’t actively hunt.
Instead, they sit still in the water or on land and wait for prey to come near. They’ll strike with their strong jaws, but only if they feel threatened. If you see a snapping turtle in the water, simply stay out of its way and be sure to keep small pets and children away.
If one does feel threatened and decides to chase you, the best thing to do is simply run away.
How to Pick Up a Big Snapping Turtle?
Since they’re mostly aquatic creatures, picking up a big snapping turtle may seem like a daunting task. However, it actually isn’t that hard to do if you have the right equipment and know how to do it.
Before attempting to pick up a big snapping turtle, ensure you have a strong and large enough container to hold them. A plastic trash can with air holes punched into it will do just fine.
Also, have a thick glove or a piece of thick fabric to place over the turtle’s head as you pick it up and a strong stick or pole to place inside the turtle’s mouth so it can’t snap at you.
Properly hold the turtle by placing the thick glove or fabric over its head and wrapping the stick or pole around its neck. Then, place the turtle in the container and ensure you have enough water. Apparently, they like to swim, but they will also be comfortable on a bed of dry substrate at the bottom of the container.
Ensure that you have an area set up for proper care and feeding of your new pet. They are not meant to be pets but instead should be left in the care of a professional.
Why Can’t You Pick Up Snapping Turtles by the Tail?
Snapping turtles have rough shells on their bellies. Which is actually part of their spine and ribcage, making it impossible for you to pick them up by the tail. The tail is also an important part of a turtle’s anatomy and is used for balance, swimming, and as a weapon to defend itself against predators.
Picking up a turtle by the tail can cause injury to the turtle’s spine and tail, which can cause permanent damage and even death. Instead, you should use a scoop or a noose. Made from rope, wire, or fishing line to safely and comfortably capture this species.
How Do You Grab a Small Snapping Turtle?
Snapping turtles have sharp claws and strong jaws that can bite through fish and small mammals. Including your hand if it gets caught in their mouth.
As you can imagine, handling this turtle is risky and should only be done by an experienced herpetologist.
The best way to capture a small one is to use a net or container, such as a plastic storage bin to scoop it up and contain it.
You can also use a fishing hook to grab a small snapper by the tail if it’s close to the edge of a lake or pond. Remember to wear heavy-duty gloves when handling a snapping turtle. Wear even a small one to protect against bites and scratches.
What To Do If you Find a Snapping Turtle on The Road?
Snapping turtles are a common sight on roads during the spring and summer, as they make their way to their nesting and feeding grounds. If you come across a snapping turtle on the road, it’s important to know what to do to ensure the safety of both the turtle and yourself.
The first thing to do when you come across a snapping turtle on the road is to slow down and give it a wide berth. They can move quickly, but they are also easily startled, so it’s important to give them plenty of space and time to move off the road.
If the turtle is too slow to move out of the way, you can use your car to nudge it toward the shoulder or a nearby ditch gently. If you can safely do so, you can also help the turtle cross the road.
You can also approach the turtle slowly and calmly and pick it up gently by the back of its shell, using both hands and being careful not to squeeze too hard. Then drag it gently across the road and release it in a nearby ditch or a safe place away from the road.
They are territorial and often return to the same spot to lay their eggs. If you can safely move the turtle to the other side of the road, it will be less likely to attempt to cross the road again, reducing the risk of injury or death.
What Should I Keep in Mind When Handling and Taking Care of a Baby Snapping Turtle?
When it comes to baby snapping turtle care, there are a few crucial things to keep in mind. First, maintain a suitable habitat with clean water and plenty of hiding spots. Provide a balanced diet consisting of both meat and vegetation. Regularly check the water temperature and ensure it’s within the recommended range. Lastly, handle the baby snapping turtle with care, avoiding any sudden movements or rough handling to prevent stress or injury.
Conclusion
Picking up a snapping turtle may seem intimidating at first. But, with the proper safety precautions and techniques, you can do it safely. Support the turtle’s body and tail, and lift with your legs, not your back.
Always remember to handle the turtle gently, and release it at the same location where you found it. With these tips, you can easily handle a snapper and help keep them safe.
We hope this article gave you the information you needed about handling a snapping turtle safely. Remember, it’s best to leave them in the wild unless you know for sure that they need help. If you decide to take it out of the water, be careful not to injure yourself or the turtle. Good luck, and be careful.
