[ValleyNature] basking snapping turtle n. of New Minas/Kentville -- was Bridgewater turtles

[James W. Wolford]

Yesterday, at noon on a Sunny warm day, I was surprised to see a  
large SNAPPING TURTLE BASKING on a horizontal tree trunk or piece of  
wood in the large pond south of Chipman's Corner (Church St.) along  
Middle Dyke Road, a bit south of Richard and Liz Stern's home.  Its  
posture was quite different from painted turtles in that the long  
neck was extended out horizontally and the head not any higher than  
the neck.  This is the first time I have ever seen a basking snapping  
turtle, although I know it happens sometimes.  One idea for its  
function is to get rid of ectoparasites like leeches?

Cheers from Jim in Wolfville

Begin forwarded message:
> From: janet mcginity <jmcginit at yahoo.ca>
> Date: May 20, 2009 9:13:47 PM ADT
> To: naturens at chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: [NatureNS] Painted and Snapping Turtles - Bridgewater
> Reply-To: naturens at chebucto.ns.ca
>
> Saw 2 species of turtles today in Bridgewater, on the trail round  
> the pond behind the DesBrisay Museum.
>
>
> One adult Painted Turtle was basking on a rock in the pond, and a  
> much smaller (juvenile?) along the trail.
>
>
> Farther along, near where people feed the ducks, we saw a different  
> kind of turtle crawl out of a muddy stream and onto the trail. It  
> had a large blunt snout, very warty legs and a larger tail than the  
> Painted Turtle, also its plastron wasn't visible from where we  
> stood. The turtle was about 12 inches nose to tail.
>
>
> Despite it being covered with ocher-colored mud, I feel pretty sure  
> this was a Snapping Turtle. We watched it for about 20 minutes  
> before we continued our way.
>
>
> Janet & Peter
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