Average Guy Outdoors: Why snapping turtles risk the road -- and how to help

Average Guy Outdoors: Why snapping turtles risk the road — and how to help focuses on why snapping turtles frequently end up on roads in Southwest Ohio and what residents should do if they see one. The article explains that these apex predators typically live in permanent freshwater with muddy bottoms, feeding on a wide diet and weighing up to 35 pounds. Mating runs from April to November, with egg-laying peaking from May to July; females may travel to quiet nesting sites, sometimes placing themselves near culverts and road markings. A clutch can contain from 7 to more than 80 eggs, incubating for 9 to 18 weeks depending on temperature, which can influence whether offspring hatch as males or females. On land, the turtle’s behavior becomes more defensive, hissing and snapping. The guidance emphasizes not picking up a turtle by the tail or grasping its carapace between front and back legs, noting the species’ long neck.