SNAPPING TURTLE

These turtles are listed everywhere as carnivorous and the list of the animals included in their diet runs from snails to signets. But sometimes amazing research can be done on your lawn! Beside a man made pond of considerable size, in Suffolk county Virginia, common snapping turtles have been found hauling out every morning to hunt... believe it or not...PEARS! Yes, it's true the supposed completely carnivorous snapping turtles race from the pond every am to snatch up fallen pears from under a pear tree and race back to consume their breakfast. Pears are certainly not “natural” foods for them, but if they’ll take pears what else are they eating that we’re just not aware of?—I love science, just when you think you’ve got it figured out there is more you didn’t know! Snapping turtles are featured in The Great Reptiles programs, Radical Reptiles, and Coral Reef - Great Swamp

This handsome fellow is "Sticks." Named so because his previous owners used a stick on his back to get him paying attention and then they would allow him to snap it. This mild form of torture was done in innocence and fun, nonetheless he was taught to snap at everything, including his own shadow. After 6 months with us he no longer snapped at anything but food and now, nearly 3 years later, he is actually very mild mannered.