snapping turtle

[dakids]

On my way home from work today I noticed this little snapper laying her eggs in a pretty bad spot.  I was thinking of moving them into my back yard where the other turtles have laid there eggs every year.  Does anyone know if this would be illegal?

[Randy Kaar]

looks like the eggs wouldnt make it very long in that spot. Legal or not
I would move them. SHHHHH   

randy

[Benny]

I would call the DNR and ask them for info, it might be that the turttle would abandon the nest if they are moved?

I do agree they should be moved though, the snappers are not very plentyfull any more.

Benny

[Randy Kaar]

I have never seen a snapper nest, But most turtles lay the eggs and
leave. The little ones have to tend for themselves..I am no expert, but
just what i seen on tv

randy

[beeker]

no idea what the dnr says... but if they get moved they get moved.

[22lex]

Yeah, snappers and all turtles lay and bolt. Moving them would be the "right" thing to do DaKids, but I wouldn't leave yourself open to get some transporting illegal animals fine, or some endangered species hoo-ya fine.

See what the DNR says. Maybe they have some U of M "interns" that need something to do tomorrow.

The driveway (leading to the bar  ) looks like it will be even more rutted out the next good rain so you either move them, DNR moves them, or wait for the crows to get 'em.

I bet your kids would love to see them hatch!

[Fawkinnae]

I agree. It probably makes sense to move them and turtle mom isn't hanging around. There might be some info on the internet that would be helpful.

[kenhuntin]

You have probably moved them already and chances are she was born on the same spot. Turtle eggs are rubbery so be cautious not to squeeze. If you think they have a better chance nearby just  be sure to put them the same depth and sunlight as they are laid now.

[dakids]

I haven't done anything yet as I have caught the bug my kids had.  

No the nest isn't by the bar, It is by one of my little early season pike creeks.

Here is a little known fact that you might not have known.   "the sex of a turtle is determined by the temp in the nest before they hatch."  I'll ask the kids what temp gives what sex later.  My guess is the colder one leads to girls.  Fridged=girls

We should be getting our yearly visitor.  Shelly the painted turtle who lays her eggs in the kids sandbox.  She is pretty regular.  She can get in but the little ones can't get out over the ledge.  Last year the kids delivered 7 babies to the creek in the back yard.

Just remembered a prank my little brother played on the kids.  He gave them all 1 extra large jaw breaker.  The type that look like a speakeled egg and told them to keep them warm under there pillows and to be very careful because the break real easy.  Kids were super mad when they found out. 
     I helped them get even with him.  We were watching his kids a few winters later and I had been ice fishing.  His kids watched everything I was doing while cleaning a female pike and My oldest daughter told his kids that if they kept her eggs under their pillows untill easter that the easter bunny would bring them extra candy.  I damn near cut off a finger laughing.  I got each of his kids a plastic baggie full of eggs and before I could say anything my vengful daughter told them to keep it a secret or the easter bunny wouldn't come.  When my brother came to pick up his kids my daughter answered the door and asked if we could celibrate easter at his house this year and started to laugh.  I did get a phone call the next day by a rather pissed off sister-in-law.  We all laugh whenever we talk about turtle eggs.

[dakids]

I just got off of the phone with the dnr.  It is illegal to move the eggs or bother a turtle while it is making its nest and while it is laying the eggs.   

I also was informed that if the eggs were moved that the turtles would not hatch if they were not placed with the same oriantation in which they were layed.  The baby turtle attaches itself to the inside of the egg and they die if they were turned upside down. 

I will not be moving them.  Hopefully they don't get driven over in the next 63 days.

[Randy Kaar]

I seen on TV that they put a dot on the eggs to show which side was
up...
Is there a way to rope the area off with that yellow caution tape that
is similar to what the cops use at a crime scene?

randy

[22lex]

I seen on TV that they put a dot on the eggs to show which side was
up...
Is there a way to rope the area off with that yellow caution tape that
is similar to what the cops use at a crime scene?

randy

I knew I had seen that somewhere too Randy! I think it was loggerhead turtles I was watching when the scientists did the dot thing.

[dakids]

The nest is in the middle of a very steap driveway.  the other drive is not as steap.  I am not going to risk moving the nest or attracting attention to it.  My money, hunting and fishing rights are to valuable to me.

[Fawkinnae]

Da Kids - on behalf of snapping turtles everywhere I want to thank you for your concern over their well being.

I'm guessing the DNR had no intention of intervening with mother nature. Maybe it's just as well. I learned some things from this post. Thank you.

[dakids]

My daughter also just informed me they will hatch in 61-63 days.

Hear is another fact for all of you.  They are VERY good table fair.
 
My grandfather butchered one when I was a young boy and after chopping off its head he just left the head in the middle of the yard.  A couple of hours later we had to also clean a chicken because it was pecking at the turtle head and the head bit the chickens head.  True story.

[Randy Kaar]

After the head is cut off, those things can still snap for a day or
longer. When i was a kid at gramma's property, the resort owner
next to us made turtle soup every fall. Good stuff!

randy