there's a snapping turtle in our yard and we don't know it's gender. It dug a whole in a yard and it might have babies. What do I feed it?
2007-06-09 05:12:31 · 6 answers · asked by Kevin D 1 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
Leave it alone.... it is a female snapping turtle laying eggs. She will walk for miles to find a suitable nest. The hatchlings will come out in roughly two months time and they will find their way to the water. They have been around for millions of years, before the dinosaurs. She found her way into your yard, let her go and she will find her way back.
She is exhausted and vulenerable, and that is why she is so fiesty (to defend herself). If you're interested in keeping turtles, buy a captive bred one.
Let her go and she will be fine. There is no need to feed her. Turtles can go weeks without food. Let her soak in your tub to rehydrate and let her continue her journey. Thank you.
2007-06-09 13:05:13 · answer #1 · answered by wu_gwei21 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi. I agree with the guy who said you should not feed it. I wanted to add that you should contact "Animal Control" in your neighborhood. They can come and move the turtle for you so that you nor the turtle get hurt. Make sure when you talk to them on the phone that they will move it to a place where it will be safe. They normally do that. Make sure to mention it is a snapping turtle.
2007-06-09 07:53:32 · answer #2 · answered by norton2628 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turtles are omnivores, so they'll eat almost anything. Their diets tend to focus mostly on fish other smaller reptiles and amphibians as well as fruits and leafy vegetables.
If its a snapping turtle, and especially if its one about to lay eggs I'd say stay away from it. Snappers tend to have bad temperaments naturally and they get worse if they are protecting a clutch of eggs. June and July are the typical laying months, and they like to lay their eggs in sandy soil. Once they are done laying and burying the clutch however they will leave. You really shouldn't have any need to feed it.
If you soil isn't highly sandy however its doubtful its laying eggs, it may simply be building a den. Typically they build these close to water but they have been known to range farther inland at times. if thats the case it would be best to either get animal resources to move it as they can be rather dangerous to small children or pets if they get to close to it do their habit of snapping and anything that gets to close to them.
2007-06-09 05:36:03 · answer #3 · answered by tentagil 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't, you let her go about her business, because if it is truly a snapping turtle, the only reason it's out of the water and digging holes is to lay eggs. After that, she'll find her way back to whatever body of water she came out of and live out the rest of her long, healthy, undisturbed life.
They eat the fingers of people who are silly enough to try to keep them as pets.
2007-06-09 19:33:10 · answer #4 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They like blood. If you have an open wound and they smell blood, they will chase you all over the yard until you are eventually caught (remember the tortoise & the hair - slow and steady wins the race). After you are caught, you will be devoured!
2007-06-09 05:22:01 · answer #5 · answered by whobeme021 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Nothing leave her along and she will lay eggs and go back to where she came from.
2007-06-11 07:04:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋