Snapping Turtle Warning

Greetings Summers Landing Residents,

A resident sent the HOA the email that is attached below and we thought it was worth passing to SL residents because most people look at turtles as being slow and harmless. Snapping turtles may be slow, but they’re not harmless, like box turtles or the small turtles many children have as pets. Children, especially, need to be warned not to try to pick up or move a snapping turtle. They can easily bite off an entire finger.

Please read the following and share it with your children. These turtles reside not only in the nature preserve but have also been spotted on Snowy Egret Court as well.

If you see any kind of turtle in the road and decide to get it out of the road, always move it in the direction it was going. If you move it back to where he came from, he will only end up going back in the road. Before you attempt to move a turtle, please first read the following.

Thank you.

SL HOA Board

Last Friday (12 May 2018)

we came upon this big guy on Cinnamon Teal at the natural area.

He was sunning himself on the road in the outbound lane. I was concerned that with Cinnamon Teal being a cut through to Ashby and some of the fast drivers we have in the development that he might get hurt.

I recognized him as a snapping turtle right away and knew how dangerous these creatures can be. I had a plastic shovel in the trunk and when I approached him he went into aggressive mode. I was able to get the shovel under his belly and push him back towards the swamp. He didn’t appreciate the lifesaving attempts and was very aggressive, but the altercation convinced him to turn around and go home.

Another resident drove up and saw him and mentioned that there are two of these characters in that swamp.

This guy was covered in mud and obviously came out to the road to sun himself on the pavement. This guy is heavy. I would say around 50 pounds.

I pass this story along as a suggestion to the neighbors that while he is a non-dues paying member of the community, he and his mate should be watched out for. Drive carefully by the natural area and pay attention to the road and don’t hit him.

If you are walking, running or bike riding in the natural area beware. They are not like box turtles. They are aggressive and they can bite a finger completely off your hand. If you are going to attempt to move one DON’T PICK IT UP. Very few people know how to pick up a snapping turtle. If you are going to move one you will need a long handled implement, preferably with a heavy plastic scoop to avoid injuring his belly.

By all means, keep the kids away from him. Like I said they are bad tempered, aggressive and dangerous.