I Found A Big Snapping Turtle, ?

Question

I was riding my bicycle and I saw a turtle next to the road. It's not a box turtle, it's a snapping turtle. It was too big to carry with one hand while riding my bike. I left it there, but I was afraid it might wander into the road and get hit by a car.
I asked some people , and they said it is probably looking for a place to hibernate. I know these things can bite, so I didn't try to move him. We had six inches of rain the other day, and he was moving toward higher ground.
Should I take the turtle to a wildlife sanctuary? The neighborhood he was in has 10 to 15 acre homes, so I think he has space, but he was only two feet from a road.
He's more than a foot long.

Answer 1

DEPENDING ON THE TIME OR YEAR, OR THE SEASONS IN YOUR STATE, HIBERNATION IS VERY POSSIBLE, OR MAYBE IT GOT LOOSE FROM ONE OF THE HOMES IN THE AREA. AGAIN IT DEPENDS ON THE STATE YOU LIVE IN. HERE IN CALIFORNIA SOME PEOPLE HAVE TURTLES IN BACKYARDS THAT ESCAPE FROM TIME TO TIME. MOST PUT OUT SIGNS FOR LOST OR FOUND TURTLE. BUT IF YOUR IN A STATE WHERE TURTLES AREN'T RARE TO SEE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO TO THE ZOO. WILD LIFE SANCTUARYS CAN BE HELPFUL. I CALLED ONCE ABOUT OPOSSUM'S IN MY YARD. THEY DIDN'T CARE CAT'S, DOGS, OR THE FACT CARS WERE KILLING THEM. THEY JUST TOLD ME NOT TO DISTURB THE WILD LIFE. AGAIN THIS IS IN CALIFORNIA IN CITY AREAS BY DISNEYLAND. WHAT EVER YOU DO, BE CAREFUL IF CAPTURING IT. YOU CAN LOSE A FINGER.

Answer 2

If you feel up to moving him, you'd be doing it a favor, a lot of people swerve to hit turtles, I've seen it happen. He may have been flushed out of his pond/creek and just looking for a new spot. These critters do wander sometimes, usually they stick to the creeks though. If he's close to a foot long, best way to pick it up is by the tail, keep in mind they have a good reach with that neck; while he's not big enough to do serious damage, a bite will hurt and bleed. I'd say put it in a box and take it to your closest river. I wouldn't worry about a sanctuary, they're tough critters.

Answer 3

If you have a safe place to take it, do it. First get him away from that road. Smaller turtles you can grab the shell near the tail, larger ones, the shell above the head and tail, 2 hands. As you know, don't let the head near you. If you have a sanctuary around, ask them for advice. Here's a guide to handling (be very careful!): http://www.chelydra.org/snapping_turtle_handling.html

Answer 4

Very noble of you to be concerned about wildlife and I hope you make the right decision. First, I would find a large box and quickly transfer from the ground into the box for easy movement. I would find a secluded area like a drain or swamp area where you might find reptiles and leave him there. This is most likely where he originated from.

Answer 5

Be careful they can be FAST when they feel threatened. I was poking one a little with a stick once, after getting no reaction I just rested the end of the stick about a foot behind him. He jumped, spun and bit it in a move so fast I couldn't believe it.

After that I just leave them alone and let them go their way.

Answer 6

he could have been kicked out of some other turtles territory and is just looking for another home/pond,dont worry yourself you did the right thing, if its not injured then leave it.

Answer 7

Leave it be, it can take care of itself.
A common snapping turtle CANNOT bit off the finger of an adult human; that is a popular myth. But the bite is painful, nonetheless.

Answer 8

do not go near it, snapping turtles have been known to jump 3 feet in the air. Stay away from it. Once it gets a hold of you it won't let go.

Answer 9

they can take fingers off ....dont touch him call the local law enforcement they can call someone to move the turtle if they fill its in danger

Answer 10

Don't touch it. It can take a finger off with a single bite. It got where it was on its own. It can find its way back.