[NatureNS] Comments on how to move a snapping turtle

Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:41:59 -0300
From: Ken McKenna <kenmcken@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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Ken McKenna
Box 218 Stellarton NS
B0K 1S0
902 752-7644
Hi Richard
I tried to call, but your line was busy. I am in for rest of night if you wish to call. 
cheers
ken
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Randy Lauff 
  To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca 
  Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:30 PM
  Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Comments on how to move a snapping turtle


  Ok, so I'm wearing my anatomists hat (and lab coat) for this one:

  I would be interested in the source of that information, Peter. I cannot believe that a tail could be so fragile...there's a lot of tough skin and muscle holding that tail to the body, in addition to the vertebral column. For those of you who have seen many of these turtles, how many have had missing, or partially missing tails? Predation attempts, especially on younger turtles, would result in missing/partial tails if the tail was so fragile. Anyone know if tails grow back in turtles...I don't think so off hand.

  Having said that, I have had little hands-on experience with turtles, but I trust Nature to have built critters to withstand that kind of force.

  Randy

  2009/6/24 Peter & Lorraine Hope <peterhope@ns.sympatico.ca>

    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 ----- 
      From: Christopher Majka 
      To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca 
      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. 


      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










  -- 
  Randy
  _________________________________
  RF Lauff
  Way in the boonies of
  Antigonish County, NS.

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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Ken McKenna<BR>Box 218 Stellarton NS<BR>B0K 1S0<BR>902 752-7644<BR><FONT 
size=2 face=Arial>Hi Richard</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I tried to call, but your line was busy. I am in 
for rest of night if you wish to call. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>cheers</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>ken</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE 
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV 
  style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> 
  <A title=randy.lauff@gmail.com href="mailto:randy.lauff@gmail.com">Randy 
  Lauff</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=naturens@chebucto.ns.ca 
  href="mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:30 
  PM</DIV>
  <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NatureNS] Comments on how 
  to move a snapping turtle</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV>Ok, so I'm wearing my anatomists hat (and lab coat) for this one:</DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV>I would be interested in the source of that information, Peter. I cannot 
  believe that a tail could be so fragile...there's a lot of tough skin and 
  muscle holding that tail to the body, in addition to the vertebral column. For 
  those of you who have seen many of these turtles, how many have had missing, 
  or partially missing tails? Predation attempts, especially on younger turtles, 
  would result in missing/partial tails if the tail was so fragile. Anyone know 
  if tails grow back in turtles...I don't think so off hand.<BR></DIV>
  <DIV>Having said that, I have had little hands-on experience with turtles, but 
  I trust Nature to have built critters to withstand that kind of force.</DIV>
  <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV>Randy<BR></DIV>
  <DIV class=gmail_quote>2009/6/24 Peter &amp; Lorraine Hope <SPAN 
  dir=ltr>&lt;<A 
  href="mailto:peterhope@ns.sympatico.ca">peterhope@ns.sympatico.ca</A>&gt;</SPAN><BR>
  <BLOCKQUOTE 
  style="BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; PADDING-LEFT: 1ex" 
  class=gmail_quote>
    <DIV style="WORD-WRAP: break-word" bgcolor="#ffffff">
    <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>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.&nbsp;I think it is an old method and I would never do 
    it for a big turtle.</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>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.</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>These re the pek days for turtle 
    nesting.</FONT></DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
    <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Pete Hope</FONT></DIV>
    <BLOCKQUOTE 
    style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
      <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
      <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4"><B>From:</B> <A 
      title=c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca href="mailto:c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca" 
      target=_blank>Christopher Majka</A> </DIV>
      <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=naturens@chebucto.ns.ca 
      href="mailto:naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" 
      target=_blank>naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</A> </DIV>
      <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:48 
      AM</DIV>
      <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NatureNS] snapping 
      turtle pics</DIV>
      <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT 
      size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT size=2 
      face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV>Hi folks, 
      <DIV>
      <DIV>I&nbsp;checked&nbsp;with&nbsp;John&nbsp;Gilhen&nbsp;on&nbsp;this&nbsp;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;where&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)&nbsp;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;must&nbsp;grasp 
      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;carrying&nbsp;it&nbsp;the&nbsp;plastron&nbsp;(i.e., 
      the belly of the turtle)&nbsp;should&nbsp;face&nbsp;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.&nbsp;</DIV>
      <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT 
      size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV>
      <DIV>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.</DIV>
      <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT 
      size=2 face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV>
      <DIV>Cheers,</DIV>
      <DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT><FONT size=2 
      face=Arial></FONT><BR></DIV>
      <DIV>Chris</DIV></DIV><BR><BR>
      <DIV><SPAN 
      style="TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; FONT: 14px 'Times New Roman'; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px">
      <DIV style="WORD-WRAP: break-word">
      <DIV>Christopher Majka - Atlantic Canada Coleoptera</DIV>
      <DIV><A 
      href="http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html" 
      target=_blank>http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html</A></DIV>
      <DIV><A href="mailto:c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca" 
      target=_blank>c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca</A></DIV>
      <DIV><BR></DIV></DIV></SPAN><BR></DIV><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><BR 
  clear=all>
  <DIV></DIV><BR>-- <BR>Randy<BR>_________________________________<BR>RF 
  Lauff<BR>Way in the boonies of<BR>Antigonish County, 
NS.<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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