[NatureNS] Comments on how to move a snapping turtle

From: "Peter & Lorraine Hope" <peterhope@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
References: <3484d1c80906211602l3334b7e9j31f787c406173b75@mail.gmail.com> <BEA13A91F03547518958A18AD5117099@HANS> <f06230901c6648dfe9deb@[96.30.155.8]> <4A3F6336.7040103@xplornet.com> <F2B0E60A-F1C5-4F1B-A3BB-23E11443A43D@ns.sympatico.ca> <ED0BC3620A3A44E29E41BD035A8AD630@don> <D7726EE8-9949-438F-A73C-D5B2BE05DBCE@eastlink.ca> <F1634459-B844-4F91-8E61-01D4455AE1A7@ns.sympatico.ca>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:03:36 -0300
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I would beg to differ. I have read that for larger turtles this can =
dislocate the spine by picking all the turtle's weight up on the tail. I =
think it is an old method and I would never do it for a big turtle.

To get them off a highway I approach from the rear and scoot them along =
with a sweeping movement of my foot against the back of the shell by the =
tail. I do so in a series of short moves so I don't flip and don't hurt =
the turtle. If it is crossing the road push it in the direction it wants =
to go. They may grip the road but a little push has never damaged toe =
nails or injured the turtle.

These re the pek days for turtle nesting.

Pete Hope
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Christopher Majka=20
  To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
  Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:48 AM
  Subject: Re: [NatureNS] snapping turtle pics


  Hi folks,
  I checked with John Gilhen on this who informed me that carrying a =
snapping turtle by the base of the tail where it meets the plastron; a) =
does not cause injury to the turtle; and b) is the safest way of moving =
one (if you must absolutely do this). You must grasp it at the base of =
the tail, and not halfway along it, and when carrying it the plastron =
(i.e., the belly of the turtle) should face your leg, and not the =
carapace (i.e., the back of the turtle). Trying to grab a snapping =
turtle by the carapace behind the head could be a very dangerous =
procedure, given the long, extremely flexible, and agile neck of a =
snapping turtle.=20


  In general, you should only move a snapping turtle if there is really =
no other option (i.e., getting it out of the middle of a road). As John =
said, "Trust me, you do not want to get a bite from a snapper." A =
snapping turtle can be a really dangerous beast.


  Cheers,


  Chris



  Christopher Majka - Atlantic Canada Coleoptera
  http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html
  c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca






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<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>I would beg to differ. I have read that =
for larger=20
turtles this can dislocate the spine by picking all the turtle's weight =
up on=20
the tail.&nbsp;I think it is an old method and I would never do it for a =
big=20
turtle.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>To get them off a highway I approach =
from the rear=20
and scoot them along with a sweeping movement of my foot against the =
back of the=20
shell by the tail. I do so in a series of short moves so I don't flip =
and don't=20
hurt the turtle. If it is crossing the road push it in the direction it =
wants to=20
go. They may grip the road but a little push has never damaged toe nails =
or=20
injured the turtle.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>These re the pek days for turtle=20
nesting.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial>Pete Hope</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; =
PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A title=3Dc.majka@ns.sympatico.ca=20
  href=3D"mailto:c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca">Christopher Majka</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dnaturens@chebucto.ns.ca=20
  href=3D"mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> =
</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 24, 2009 =
10:48=20
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NatureNS] =
snapping turtle=20
  pics</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT><FONT size=3D2 =
face=3DArial></FONT><FONT=20
  size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT><FONT size=3D2 face=3DArial></FONT><FONT =
size=3D2=20
  face=3DArial></FONT><BR></DIV>Hi folks,
  <DIV>
  =
<DIV>I&nbsp;checked&nbsp;with&nbsp;John&nbsp;Gilhen&nbsp;on&nbsp;this&nbs=
p;who&nbsp;informed&nbsp;me&nbsp;that&nbsp;carrying&nbsp;a&nbsp;snapping&=
nbsp;turtle&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;base&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;tail&nbsp;wh=
ere&nbsp;it&nbsp;meets&nbsp;the&nbsp;plastron;&nbsp;a)&nbsp;does&nbsp;not=
&nbsp;cause&nbsp;injury&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;turtle;&nbsp;and&nbsp;b)&nb=
sp;is&nbsp;the&nbsp;safest&nbsp;way&nbsp;of&nbsp;moving&nbsp;one&nbsp;(if=
&nbsp;you&nbsp;must&nbsp;absolutely&nbsp;do&nbsp;this).&nbsp;You&nbsp;mus=
t&nbsp;grasp=20
  =
it&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;<I>base</I>&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;tail,&nbsp;and=
&nbsp;not&nbsp;halfway&nbsp;along&nbsp;it,&nbsp;and&nbsp;when&nbsp;carryi=
ng&nbsp;it&nbsp;the&nbsp;plastron&nbsp;(i.e.,=20
  the belly of the turtle)&nbsp;should&nbsp;face&nbsp;your leg, and not =
the=20
  carapace (i.e., the back of the turtle). Trying to grab a snapping =
turtle by=20
  the car