Snapping turtle (Photo by Ontley)

Snapping turtle

They're the armoured tanks of the natural world. With their mighty jaws and muscular build, snapping turtles are Canada’s largest freshwater turtle.

What does the snapping turtle look like?

Snapping turtles weigh up to 16 kilograms and usually grow to 20 to 36 centimetres in shell length (but occasionally up to 50 centimetres long). This robust species has a ridged, thick upper shell (carapace), which is tan, olive or black, and a long, studded tail. Its bottom shell (plastron) is small compared to that of other turtle species, leaving the snapping turtle's limbs and neck exposed. The snapping turtle is unable to fully retract into its shell when threatened, which is why it snaps its jaws as a defense against predators.

Where is the snapping turtle found?

(Click on the image to enlarge)

In Canada, this species is found from southeastern Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia. Snapping turtles are still fairly common in eastern Canada, but less so in the Prairies.

They can be found in shallow freshwater habitats with slow-moving water and a soft mud or sand bottom.

What is the snapping turtle's conservation status?

Snapping turtles are assessed as special concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

Although snapping turtles have few natural predators due to their size, their numbers have declined because of the loss of their wetland habitat. They are particularly vulnerable to road mortality, because females often have to cross roads to find suitable nesting sites. Their reputation as aggressive, voracious predators has unfortunately also made them targets for persecution by people. Snapping turtles do not attack swimmers, and are only aggressive when provoked. They play an important role in the ecosystem as scavengers and help keep our waters clean.

Snapping turtles can live over 70 years, and only reach sexual maturity at 15 to 20 years of age. As a result, any loss of mature individuals — in particular, egg-laying females — can impact the population. Roadside nests are at risk of being destroyed by traffic, and eggs and hatchlings are also vulnerable to being eaten by other animals.

What is NCC doing to protect the snapping turtle's habitat?

Across Canada, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) has conserved properties where snapping turtles occur, including all focal areas of the Ottawa Valley in Quebec, the Interlake Natural Area in Manitoba and the Silver River property in Nova Scotia. In Ontario, NCC has restored wetland habitat on Pelee Island and in the Southern Norfolk Sand Plain. Snapping turtles were spotted using these new habitat areas almost immediately!