Safety note: Bites if handled — do not pick up
The Common Snapping Turtle is a large, aggressive freshwater turtle found throughout eastern North America. Its powerful hooked jaw can inflict serious bites. It rarely basks and spends most of its life submerged.
Habitat
Ponds, lakes, streams, and slow-moving rivers with muddy bottoms
Diet
Aquatic plants, fish, frogs, invertebrates, and carrion
How common
Common
Best time to see a Common Snapping Turtle
The best time to see a Common Snapping Turtle is April–June, when about 64% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 86,139 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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Recent Common Snapping Turtle sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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5,300+species
63national parks
50states