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Snapping Turtles Laying Their Eggs
On June 12, 2005, a snapping turtle was found laying her eggs at the side of the road.
Photography provided by Gerard Cleary
JUNE 12 2001 DES CHENES RAPIDS. ( OTTAWA WESTERN PARKWAY )
AT 7:00 A.M. WHILE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT DES CHENES RAPIDS, I NOTICED A LARGE SNAPPING TURTLE COME ACROSS THE GRASS AREA AND STOP AT THE EDGE OF THE CEMENT PERIMETER. 7:10 A.M. SHE STARTED TO DIG A HOLE WITH HER HIND FEET, 7:30 A.M. STILL DIGGING AWAY. 8:00 A.M. I NOTICED THE FIRST EGG DROP INTO THE HOLE, THIS CONTINUED UNTIL APPROX 9:00 A.M., 9:30A.M. SHE GATHERED THE EARTH AROUND AND COVERED THE HOLE VERY CAREFULLY USING HER HIND LEGS. THEN WENT DIRECTLY BACK INTO THE RIVER. GETTING INFORMATION ON TURTLES, I KEPT A CLOSE WATCH DAILY ON THE AREA, AND 85 EIGHTY-FIVE DAYS LATER AS I ARRIVED TO THE AREA, SURPRISE THESE LITTLE CREATURES WERE CLIMBING OUT OF THE HOLE, I ONLY COUNTED A FEW BUT FROM THE SMALL MARKINGS ON THE GROUND, MANY HAD LEFT THE AREA, MANY CROWS WERE FLYING VERY LOW AND SEVERAL TIMES SWEPT DOWN CLOSE TO MY HEAD AT LEAST I MANAGED TO GET 4 FOUR DOWN TO THE MUDDY BAY.
