Turtle Symbol

Pictures: Snapping Turtle

... Sally, the snapping turtle, lays her eggs

Another Covid-19 Activity.
Friday June 19, 2020, on one of our early morning walks, we stopped along the Laurel Trail as we approached the Silver Lake pedestrain bridge in Waterloo Park (43.465900, -80.530221.) We noticed a beautiful thistle plant that was exhibiting several gorgeous flowers and we wanted  pictures. As we did so, we noticed "Sally Snapper" in the process of laying her eggs very close to the thistle. She had been there for some time. She had dug the typical hole and periodically we would see body movement at the posterior end and a small white egg would drop into the hole. We watched for about 45 minutes and in that time she must have laid at least 15-20 eggs. Note: The pictures and movie (below) were taken using a cell phone.

Check the website of the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre for turtle information. They have a whole section devoted to the Snapping Turtle. In addition have a look at the rare Charitable Research Reserve's Protect the Turtles. Other sites > Snapping Turtle Hunt Ban <> Snapping Turtle Fact sheet (OMNR) <> The Road to Extinction: A special report by Ontario Nature, The Suzuki Foundation, and KTTC about the threats faced by the Snapping Turtle in Ontario (PDF).

 

Sally Snapping Turtle

Snapping Turtle

 

Movie of Sally Laying One of Numerous Eggs

As the movie was made there were city employees cutting grass nearby plus the LRT went past. Hence the background noise.
For a better view of the egg dropping, enlarge the video.

 

The picture below is a frame from the movie.
You can see part of one of the round white eggs dropping into the hole.


Sally Snapper Egg

 

We checked the nesting location next day - see picture below.
rare Charitable Research Reserve at Work


Turtle Nest Protection

Wording on Label Appears Below

Turtle Label

 

Links to more pictures:

Snowstools | A "Pileated" White Pine | Red Trillium Variant at Huron Natural Area | Snowshoe at rare Charitable Research Reserve 2014 | A Story of Two Amulrees & The Highland Clearances | The Swamp Crew | Tynemouth Hooligans | "Wild Turkeys" | Hackberry | Turk's-cap Lily | Snowshoeing at Petersburg Tract 2015 | Niagara Glen | Massasauga rattlesnake  | We Hiked the Bruce Trail In Small Doses | Frogs Croaking at Huron Natural Area | Female flower of Black Pine  | Canada Goose Nesting | Red-Tailed Hawks | Snapping Turtle | Thistles & Tongue Twister | Mulberry ... more to follow .