Snapping TurtleAn annual spring event occurs, as a snapping turtle fills her nest with eggs. (Photo David A. Murray)

Every day of spring brings about changes in wildlife. Everything on the planet reacts in some way or another to the longer hours of sunlight, seasonal rain, and warmer temperatures.

While some critters are active and endure the long harsh winter, others lay dormant waiting for Mother Nature's signal that change is on the way. This is especially true for aquatic creatures that survive in a world that becomes sealed by ice for several months of the year. But eventually, the ice begins to crack and soften as the warm spring rain saturates the remaining snow and ice, opening large portholes to the water below.

The lakes and ponds transition from an ice covered world to a blue aquatic habitat teeming with new life, and triggering the start of a new year for many critters. One of these critters that emerge from the long winter, and start their annual life cycle each spring, is the snapping turtle.

In North America, the snapping turtle is the most common and familiar turtle east of the Mississippi River. These are the largest turtles in the east and can weigh as much as forty to fifty pounds.

Snapping turtles are easily recognized by their large head and long tail, which is distinctively adorned with saw-toothed wedges. The strong pronounced jaw is also very evident. In fact, the quick, powerful, snapping jaw of this turtle is so legendary, that this descriptive term was chosen for its name. Its vicious bite claims many fish, young birds, and small mammals, throughout the season.

The snapping turtle is a powerful swimmer and spends most of its time in shallow water or submerged in the muddy bottom of a pond, with only its eyes and nostrils protruding above the mud. However, occasionally, snappers can be seen sunbathing along the water's edge or feeding on grasses and aquatic plants that line the perimeter of a pond.

The snapping turtle generally mates anytime during its "active" season, which usually extends from April until about November. The female turtle uniquely stores and carries the male's sperm in her body, sometimes for several years.

Once the ground thaws and begins to warm, the female snapping turtle turns her attention to laying eggs. Egg laying occurs from about May to June, depending on the geographical area and the occurrence of the spring thaw. A female snapping turtle will often travel a considerable distance from the water to find a suitable location for her nest or nests. Nesting locations need to provide a workable soil that allows the snapping turtle to easily dig an adequate hole, or nest, for the eggs.

These amazing egg layers will deposit an average of twenty-five to fifty eggs in a single nest; some may even lay as many as eighty eggs. Although the eggs are small, typically about one and one-half inches in diameter, the volume of eggs still requires a large hole to adequately bury and protect the fragile offspring.

The female snapping turtle starts by digging the nest with her hind feet. Once the nest is completed, she positions herself over the edge of the opening. As the eggs begin to drop, she guides and positions them into the hole with her hind feet. The consistency of the eggshell is soft and pliable. This eliminates the danger of the eggs breaking as they drop into the nest and make contact with other eggs.

Once all the eggs are laid, the female covers the top of the nest with the excavated dirt from the hole and returns back to the water. Incubation time varies by location and ground temperature, but usually the youngsters hatch in nine to eighteen weeks.

Observing or photographing natural wildlife behavior is both difficult and rewarding. The difficulties can vary depending upon the critter and the circumstances, but in all cases, knowing where and when to find critters and understanding their behaviors is essential. The reward, once you find natural wildlife behavior occurring, is obvious. A glimpse into seldom seen natural events is a priceless encounter that is very often a once in a lifetime experience.

Timing in life is everything, and that was the case here. After years of trying to be in the right place at the right time, it finally occurred.

As I approached the female snapping turtle, she had just begun to dig the nest. The degree of difficulty to record this event was significant. First and most importantly, was how to approach the turtle and not jeopardize or interfere with the egg laying. Then, there was the challenge of finding a position to photograph the egg laying process.

After spending time in full view of the turtle, I began to slowly approach and test the comfort level. Eventually, I had gained an adequate position from which to photograph. I adjusted the tripod to a level that created a suitable shooting angle with the mounted camera body and an 80-200mm lens. The adjustable telephoto lens allowed for various compositions without moving the tripod and disturbing the turtle.

A technique referred to as fill-flash was used to illuminate inside the hole as well as to help freeze the motion of the dropping eggs. Any flash unit that allows for manual adjustment can be used for this technique. My concern, in this situation, was to provide adequate light to clearly see the eggs, but not too much light because the white eggs would lose their color and detail. Manually setting the flash for about one-half power gave a flash burst with the desired results.

As the next generation of snapping turtles dropped into the nest, one of the many critters that emerge from the long winter to start their life cycle each spring completed another annual event.

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