The Snapping Turtle: A Dangerous Bite Or A Myth?

Snapping turtles are often feared due to their intimidating appearance, but how bad can they really hurt you? These turtles are not typically dangerous and will only attack humans if they feel provoked or threatened. While they are not aggressive by nature, they will defend themselves if necessary, and their powerful jaws can deliver a strong bite. However, it is important to understand the context and take precautions when encountering these creatures to ensure your safety.

Snapping turtles are unlikely to hurt you in water

Snapping turtles are predators, but they do not see humans as potential prey. They spend most of their time underwater, waiting for their prey to come to them. They are ambush hunters, burying themselves in mud and waiting for smaller animals, such as bugs, frogs, fish, and smaller turtles, to pass by. Humans are simply too big to be considered prey, and the turtles are more likely to be distracted by their natural prey and too far below the water's surface to notice human swimmers.

Snapping turtles are also mostly nocturnal, so they are less active during the day when most people swim. They are also highly unlikely to attack swimmers because they feel safer in the water and are less threatened by humans. In fact, if they sense a disturbance, their instinct is often to slip away quietly or seek shelter in the mud or grass, rather than confront the perceived threat.

While snapping turtles are not aggressive by nature, they will defend themselves if they feel threatened. Therefore, it is important to maintain a safe distance and avoid touching or cornering them. If you encounter a snapping turtle in the water, simply give it space, and it will likely ignore you.

They can be dangerous on land

While snapping turtles are often thought of as aggressive predators, they are actually omnivores whose diet consists of plant matter. They are not aggressive by nature and rarely attack humans unless provoked. However, they can be dangerous on land, especially during the breeding season when they leave the water and travel over land to lay their eggs.

On land, snapping turtles feel vulnerable and threatened. They are the only turtles that do not have a large enough plastron (under-carriage) to hide or tuck into like other turtles. As a result, they will resort to aggression as a defence mechanism when they sense a threat on land. Nesting females can be particularly aggressive, and while they won't chase you, they will bite if they feel they have no other option.

Snapping turtles have flexible necks and powerful jaws, which they use to defend themselves. Their bite force can be up to 1,872 Newtons for the largest Alligator snapping turtles, and while this is less than a human's bite force of around 1,100 Newtons, it is still strong enough to cause serious injury. In addition, their long necks can crane around about half their body length, so grabbing them from the sides or front can result in a bite.

If you encounter a snapping turtle on land, it is important to keep your distance and avoid touching or cornering the animal. They are more likely to attack if they feel threatened, so it is best to give them a wide berth. If you need to move a snapping turtle, do not pick it up by the tail, as this can cause spinal injury. Instead, use a thick mat, cardboard, or a towel to carefully pull them along the ground, or enlist the help of others to lift them into a wheelbarrow.

They can bite fingers off

Snapping turtles have a reputation for being aggressive, but this is largely due to their intimidating appearance. In reality, they are not typically dangerous to humans and will only bite as a last resort when they feel threatened. However, their bites can be extremely dangerous, and there have been numerous cases of snapping turtles biting fingers off.

Snapping turtles are physically unable to hide in their shells like other species of turtles. As a result, they have evolved to develop other defence mechanisms, such as their flexible necks and powerful jaws. Their jaws are so strong that they can exert a bite force of up to 1,872 Newtons, which is enough to bite through human bone and ligaments. For comparison, humans bite with a force of roughly 1,100 Newtons.

Due to their flexible necks, snapping turtles can easily bite a person even if the person is holding them by the edges of their shells. Their long necks can crane up to half their body length, so grabbing them from the sides or front can result in a bite to the finger. This is why it is important to never pick up a snapping turtle unless it is an emergency situation. Even then, it is best to leave this task to trained professionals.

If you do find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being bitten by a snapping turtle, it is important to remain calm. Do not try to pull your finger out of its mouth, as this may cause further injury. Instead, submerge the turtle underwater and wait for it to let go.

In conclusion, while snapping turtles are not inherently aggressive towards humans, their powerful jaws and flexible necks mean that they can easily bite fingers off if they feel threatened. To avoid being bitten, it is important to give snapping turtles a wide berth and never attempt to pick one up.

They are not aggressive by nature

While snapping turtles have a reputation for being aggressive, this is not actually the case. In fact, snapping turtles are not aggressive by nature and will only bite or attack humans if they feel threatened or provoked.

Snapping turtles are predators, but they have no interest in humans and will not attack unless they are bothered. They are, however, physically unable to hide in their shells like other species of turtles, so they have developed other defence mechanisms, such as their flexible necks and powerful jaws, to protect themselves.

In the water, snapping turtles are extremely unlikely to attack a human. They feel safest in the water and are too distracted by their prey to notice or care about human swimmers or other animals. Their prey consists of smaller animals, so they are not interested in anything the size of a human. Snapping turtles are also mostly nocturnal, so they are less active during the day when most people go swimming.

On land, snapping turtles are more vulnerable and may resort to aggression if they sense a threat. They won't chase you, but they can't outrun predators, so their only option is to snap. Nesting females, in particular, can be disagreeable. Recognising their flexible necks and fast-snapping jaws is vital for safe handling.

Overall, snapping turtles are not aggressive by nature and will only attack if they feel threatened or provoked. They are not interested in humans and would prefer to be left alone. If you encounter a snapping turtle, it is best to keep your distance and not touch or corner the animal.

They are physically unable to hide in their shells

Unlike many other turtles, snapping turtles cannot hide in their shells. Their plastron (the bottom shell) is small, leaving much of their body exposed. This means that they cannot pull their heads and legs into their shells for protection against predators, as most other turtles can.

Because of this, snapping turtles have developed other defence mechanisms to protect themselves. They have long necks, powerful jaws, and flexible bodies. They will bite if they feel threatened, and their bite force is strong—up to 1,872 Newtons for the largest Alligator snapping turtles, and 564 Newtons for Common snapping turtles. For comparison, humans bite with a force of around 1,100 Newtons.

Snapping turtles are not aggressive by nature and will not attack humans unless provoked. They feel vulnerable on land and may attack if humans interact with them. They are also more likely to bite when out of water. In the water, they feel more comfortable and less threatened by humans. They will usually try to escape to avoid harm, either by moving away or retreating to the lake bed.

If you need to move a snapping turtle, do so with caution. Avoid picking them up by their tail, as this can cause serious spinal injury. Instead, carefully pick them up by holding the back edges of their shell. It is best to avoid picking them up unless it is absolutely necessary.

Frequently asked questions