07 Snappers
Chelydra serpentina serpentina
Common Snapping Turtle
Ok, here is the deal with these little guys.
I picked up the mom from the interstate just outside of Iowa City, Iowa on 06-06-07.
She was picked up at exit 244 on I-80 outside of Iowa City, Iowa.
She had her head cracked but was still alive when picked up.
However, she died about half-way home, I was on my normal run for work to Burlington, Iowa.
You can see she was a fairly large turtle. I did not measure her because I was more concerned with getting her eggs out and getting them into the incubator, plus I had a painted turtle waiting in line as well.
I removed 42 eggs from her on June 4th. All eggs were incubated at 84 degrees F. the entire time.
They started to hatch the week of august 6th and were all out of the egg by august 10th. 100% hatch rate!
My thoughts on this:
The state of Iowa needs to put up drift fencing to keep these animals off our roads! Who knows how old she was or how many eggs she could have laid, I just try to think she more than likely laid a lot more than these 42 over the course of her life.
Where are they now.
All except 6 were released into small local ponds and small streams leading to larger rivers. I wish them all the best of luck.
The remain 6 will stay with me until after next spring, at which time if they are at 4 inches in carapass length they will also be released. The reason I am waiting is to be sure at least one of this turtles offspring make it to an adult breedable size.
Note: I am working in conjunction with Wapsi River Wildlife Project. All work was overseen by licensed wildlife rehabbers.