I'm not really afraid of them, but I don't want get a bite, they can be large and do a bit of damage. These turtles swim using all four feet in a way similar to the dog paddle, with the feet on the left and right side of the body alternately providing thrust. I would not reccommend swimming with the snapping turtles. Click to rate this post! How did snapping turtles get their name? Snapping turtles snap on land because they are the only turtles that do not have a plasteron (an under-carriage) and therefore they cannot hide or tuck in like other turtles. Evolution has given them strong jaws to protect themselves if threatened; hence the name “ snapping” turtle. Common (Chelydra serpentina) and alligator (Macrochelys temminckii) snapping turtles are primarily nocturnal, though they may be seen swimming near the surface occasionally during the day. My question is: If one swims in such a pond, can one get bitten by either snakes, or snapping turtles, or even otters? However, last time we accidentallty caught a huge snapping turtle. How big do they get? Yes they can, I found a baby snapping turtle in my yard, and it looked like it couldn't see due to the residue and mud, it's best if you can put them in a stream, because they can adapt to finding prey easier than on land, but if it's in a snapping turtle area, with others, then I strongly suggest you don't do it, but other than that, water is the best for them at that age. There are also quite a few turtles in the pond, and I have seen ones of maybe 6 to 8 inches in size. The jaws of these creatures are immensely powerful, made to tear bits of flesh off of prey. Some snapping turtles can weigh up to thirty pounds—large enough to completely sever off a finger, toe, or even hand. Another thing that makes snapping turtles great at swimming is the fact that they are able to breath underwater. How to Get Rid of Snapping Turtles. On average, these turtles grow to have a shell that's about 10-12 inches long and weigh from 10 to 35 lbs., but some get larger. However, excessive cold can be fatal to turtles. Turtles have not been found living in Antarctica, but they do survive subfreezing temperatures, inhabiting all six other continents and every ocean. fa590 - 2007-06-26 7:55 PM What is the deal with snapping turtle and a OWS swim in lake. Yet snapping turtles are considered docile creatures except during mating and egg laying season. Despite spending most of their time in the water, they don’t actually swim much. How to Get Rid of Snapping Turtles. [Total: 16 Average: 4.2]Turtles are always considered to be an interesting animal to the human kind, due to their peculiar behavioral pattern of withdrawing into the shell, whenever they feel threatened. Massive “cold stunned” sea turtle stranding events occur every few years around the globe when the ocean temperature drops to extremes for long periods of time. The jaws of these creatures are immensely powerful, made to tear bits of flesh off of prey. will snapping turtles attack humans? Although a common snapper may occasionally grab an unsuspecting duckling, the taking of … Your turtle may be just two inches long now, but he will double in size every year until he reaches his adult size, which will be anywhere from 12 to 18 inches. Two years ago, I also saw otters showing up in the pond. Evolution has given them strong jaws to protect themselves if threatened; hence the name “ snapping” turtle. How did snapping turtles get their name? Unlike other turtles they are unable to fully draw their legs and head into their shells. This is because they are a species at risk. Snapping turtles are a protected species. You can safely swim in a pond or river that has snapping turtles living in it. Some very fat captive snapping turtles get to be over 80 lbs.! Could these be snapping turtles? When box turtles do swim, they often tend to swim on the top of the water, in places such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and creeks. I am going to my lake house in wisconsin this weekend and we usually swim in the lake by our house a LOT. I would argue strongly that snapping turtles are a threat to populations of neither. how do you avoid them? Snapping turtles only occasionally emerge from the water to bask, yet they do not swim particularly well and are often observed walking on the bottom of water bodies. Yet snapping turtles are considered docile creatures except during mating and egg laying season. 10. Snapping turtles only occasionally emerge from the water to bask.