Living and Dying like a Reptile

[JFC1]

The drought is really taking its toll.

I discovered that the deer were bedding along my normal path to a stand I hadn't hunted yet, so I thought "the water levels will be low in the stream and I can follow it up." Look what I found...I've never seen it dry like this. When I came on this snapping turtle I was sure he'd be stinking, from the looks of him. But he finally hissed after a few light kicks. He had his face in the last bit of water in the stream, alongside three chub. I took him down to the bridge and no water there either. So we went off to a larger stream. There's no way they can bury themselves in mud in the Sourlands--all rock, all the way. The little box turtle wasn't so lucky. Not a mark on his shell. I'm assuming it was the drought, too.  I don't usually hold a snapping turtle by the tail, but we had to walk far and scramble over logs and through brambles so I couldn't make it safely with both hands on his shell.

Edited September 26, 2022 by JFC1

[Recurve hntr]

Wow that’s horrible. You did a great thing getting it to the water. 

[OldMenRule]

Turtles are fascinating. We would catch them all the time at the Overpeck Creek. Like something out of prehistoric days.  

[Jim_]

That is sad.

Good man for trying to help.

[JD48]

Great pics, glad to see you finally did something right

[Roon]

Nice, however don't let the low water fool you.

I'm about a mile from the Pohat Creek,  I wind up with baby snapping turtles in my yard and pond from time to time.

They don't live to be old as dirt by not knowing how to take care of themselves. His only downfall right now is the cold nights coming up they don't move all too quick. 

And it wreaks havoc on the respiratory system

[jumpthestring]

Your a good dude, for helping out the snapper.  

[MGHunter66]

Good save

[electric10162]

Nice save JFC! I find snappers a long ways from water on my property. Every late spring they'll lay eggs just below my pines which is amazingly far for a baby turtle to survive that trip back to water. 

[Live to Hunt]

Good job brother. Not like some cub killers I know 

[JFC1]

2 hours ago, Roon said:

Nice, however don't let the low water fool you.

I'm about a mile from the Pohat Creek,  I wind up with baby snapping turtles in my yard and pond from time to time.

They don't live to be old as dirt by not knowing how to take care of themselves. His only downfall right now is the cold nights coming up they don't move all too quick. 

And it wreaks havoc on the respiratory system

I agree, but he looked to be in bad shape in terms of dehydration from long-term absence of water and very weak from no food, even though he had three chubs dancing in front of his nose. Very little behind the back legs...

[SoxFan]

Great save!

[Roon]

2 hours ago, JFC1 said:

I agree, but he looked to be in bad shape in terms of dehydration from long-term absence of water and very weak from no food, even though he had three chubs dancing in front of his nose. Very little behind the back legs...

They all aren't as lucky as my guys, Blue and Yellie  just came into their country club for the winter 

[JFC1]

7 minutes ago, Roon said:

They all aren't as lucky as my guys, Blue and Yellie  just came into their country club for the winter 

I think they really like the clubhouse decor

[Buck154]

Good save. I saved 2 from the roads this summer