Met a new friend on the trail

Fortunately I saw it before the dog did! Prehistoric-looking beasties, aren’t they?

The Common Snapping Turtle is Ontario’s largest freshwater turtle, ranging in size from 20-36 cm (8 to 14 in) with a record length of 49 cm (19.3 in). They have a very long life span - 70 years is not uncommon. They are late to mature and females don’t begin breed until they are 17 to 19 years old. They don’t swim well, and spend much of their time walking along the bottom of ponds, rivers and wetlands.

[Diana]

Well spotted and captured, it sounds like a nasty critter ;-)

[Walks @ 7]

Those claws, yipes

[Susan Wakely]

It’s body look too big for its shell. Great find.

[Joan Robillard]

They are

[Mags]

Aww! It looks like an old one.

[Bucktree]

Wow, Nice find and capture. Yes, they are very prehistoric looking.

[Kate]

You don't want to get that beast snapping!

[Ken M]

They are deceptively fast too, when they want to be!

[tony gig]

Wonderful nature shot...

[Carole Sandford]

An unusual find!

[Elisabeth Sæter]

Great shot

[Boxplayer]

Love him.

[GaryW]

It looks so old!

[Pam]

Wow! That is a huge snapping turtle!

[Ann H. LeFevre]

They are definitely prehistoric looking- and this one seems to have had a very good life- it's huge! Don't get your finger near him- the name "snapping" is just what it means. Great catch!