When do snapping turtles lay eggs and where?

Common snapping turtles are native to North America.Turtles can be found at the bottoms of muddy ponds, rivers, marshes, lakes and any permanent freshwater habitat with ample aquatic vegetation.The large turtles lay their eggs on land.

Common snapping turtles are native to North America.Turtles can be found at the bottoms of muddy ponds, rivers, marshes, lakes and any permanent freshwater habitat with ample aquatic vegetation.The large turtles lay their eggs on land.

During warmer months, snapping turtles are most active in breeding.They move their heads from side to side as they face one another.Mating begins with the male adjusting his tail to allow the cloacal openings to touch the female.A female snapping turtle can keep viable sperm in her body for several years so that eggs can be fertilized even when she does not mate.

In the early summer, a female snapping turtle will lay her eggs.Egg-laying may last into autumn.She digs a nest 4 to 7 inches deep in an area of loose soil, sand, loam, vegetation debris or sawdust.She will lay 20 to 40 soft-shelled, cream-colored eggs that are roughly the size and shape of a table tennis ball.In some parts of the range, snapping turtles only dig their nest in the morning.

According to Tom R. Johnson, up to 84 percent of snapping turtle nest are destroyed by animals.

55 to 125 days after the mama snapping turtle lays the eggs, the hatchlings will emerge from their soft shells.The northern part of the snapping turtle's range has the longest time to hatch.Incubation takes from 75 to 95 days, and hatchings occur between August and October.In the north, hatchlings don't emerge from their eggs until the following spring.