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Scientific Name: Chelydra serpentina
Life Cycle:
June: Females lay eggs. They will hatch within 60 days plus or minus a few
weeks. Snapping Turtle eggs hatch between 55 and 125 days. Box turtle eggs hatch
between 87-89 days. Temperature plays a big role in when the eggs hatch.
Are baby snappers a danger to my pets?
The young turtles are not a threat to your pets, just keep them from eating
the baby turtles. More likely your pets are a threat to the turtles.
I would put a little flower fence around the dig spots to keep people from
walking on the nests. Let nature take care of the rest.
Protecting Snapping Turtle Eggs from predators.
A number of animals including raccoons eat turtle eggs. If you wish to protect
the eggs do the following. First, don't move them or disturb them. Second, anchor
a wire basket over the nest area making sure you don't damage the eggs. You
must also ensure that the wire's weave also known as mesh is at least 2x2 inches
square so as to allow the young hatched turtles room to escape. Air flow is
also important so the eggs don't over heat. (Source Connecticut Wildlife
Magazine May/June 2002 p.13)
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on resolving human/wildlife conflicts. We welcome suggestions, criticisms to
help us achieve this goal. The information provided is for informational purposes
only and users of the information use it at their own risk. The reader must
consult state/federal officials to determine the legality of any technique in
the reader's locale. Some techniques are dangerous to the user and to others.
WDC encourages readers to obtain appropriate training (see our informational
literature at our Store ), and understand that proper animal damage
control involves patience, understanding that not every technique/method works
for every situation or even 100% of the time. Your use of this information is
governed by this understanding.
We welcome potential users of the information
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6/8/04
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