A few years ago, I came across a large turtle crossing a fairly busy country road in Vermont. I put on my hazard lights, stopped the car and got out to help the turtle out of harm's way. It was a bit larger than the one in this video. When I picked it up, it surprised me with how heavy it was, and even more so by the fact that, as I started carrying him, he suddenly gave a tremendous "twist" by using its legs and head. The action was so powerful and unexpected that I lost my grip on him and he fell out of my hands and onto the pavement - about a 2 foot fall, as I had not straightened up while carrying him. His falling like that shocked the both of us, I think. I remember feeling really sorry for him and hoping he hadn't injured himself. But, after a pause to reassess, I picked him up again and held on more firmly this time and got him across the road, gently. I don't know if he was a snapping turtle or not. I didn't even know about snapping turtles back then. Well, I had heard the name, sure. But I didn't know that they could extend their necks like that and potentially injure a person. My other recollections of that incident were that he was surprisingly heavy. Also, that the drivers in Vermont are very patient, kind and understanding. I noticed there was quite a line of cars stopped in both directions as I finished dealing with the turtle. Yet, not one of the drivers had honked their horn, nor otherwise displayed any signs of impatience as I toiled. In fact, I got a few smiles and thumbs up from the cars I could see into as I returned to mine.
Last summer I saved a big snapping turtle that was crossing a street like the one in the video. He was way to frightened and defensive to let me try to pick him up, he kept jumping and turning to try to snap me. I ended up taking my shoe off and putting it in front of his face for him to bite and latch onto so I could drag him across a couple feet at a time. He kept letting go so I'd gently wave my shoe in his face for him to latch onto again to drag him a couple more feet until I got him across, up the curb and past the sidewalk. :)
Just helped a big snapping turtle across a busy highway this morning. She was about the same size as the one you show in the video. She was feisty, unlike the one in this video. I got her safely across, went home and washed my hands, and drove back to check on her. She was long gone by the time I got back (only 3 minutes away). I take that as a good sign. :) :) :)
Thank you for being a kind steward of wildlife. Snapping turtles are endangered. The female I saw killed this morning was not so lucky to have someone like you or I happen along to save her life and the lives of her young. She appeared to have a full clutch. It made me so sad to think I was minutes away from saving her life and her babies before some idiot chose to end it.
@@mystic_tacos Sorry, perhaps a poor choice of words. Alligator snappers are close to being endangered. All snappers though are threatened. Their numbers are in decline due to pollution and habitat destruction.
@@mystic_tacos They are not. How is this important when showing how to prevent them from being killed & becoming endangered? He is showing good techniques applicable to any turtles. Box turtles probably aren't going to need as much technique as just lifting them, but he was showing ho to help them. I don't think being endangered was a theme.
My daughter and I came across a snapping turtle in Georgia recently, on a VERY busy road. We stopped to help him, my daughter kept telling me to pick it up and move it. First of all, it was big, and second, I KNEW not to pick it up by it’s sides because of its long neck. I kept kinda coaxing it with my foot and it finally started moving again. Excellent video!! Thank your for sharing the proper way!!
Word to the wise: Many aquatic turtles store a lot of water for their migration. Water that they may expel if they feel threatened. It's a very good idea to make sure their rear end is pointing off to the side so you don't get hosed down. And yes, the water is a bit foul smelling, you won't enjoy climbing back into your car with pants soaked with turtle water.
Happend to me already, when I was moving a turtle off the road through a marsh! No big deal. Change of pants and everything is back to normal! :) And the turtle was rescued from the road. :)
@@ChadTower hmmm, mild discomfort and thirstiness vs becoming a pile of shell shards and guts in the middle of the road. I choose saving it. Sure, it will be a little thirsty, but if you live in a wetland state, which most turtles do, it will only be a temporary problem, they can make more stops to refill in the next body of water they are bound to happen upon in their journey. They aren't fish, so it's more like making an amphibious person drop some water canteens.
A quick and easy way to move a snapper. I have used this on turtles up to 20 lbs. I carry a small fleece blanket in the car at all times (about 4 ft. sq.). Run to turtle, throw blanket over the top, pick up on sides, run it to the side in direction it was headed. I used to ignore Snappers because didn't want to deal with the claws or risk biting. Used this method many times. It's quick and they barely know what happened.
That is one patient turtle ! He was like DUDE - make up your mind !! Thanks for this important video. Our wildlife needs all the help it can get from us humans, since we do so much damage to the environment !
The turtle is Canadian, you goofs. Of course he's not going to snap when the nice fellow is demonstrating how to help him cross the road. The 9 people who gave this video a thumbs-down are obviously not Canadian.
The turtle did snap at him twice and his help mate once. It was getting irritated with being jostled around. Any creature would. He just kept demonstration going. Turtle doesn't know if it's Canadian or not "Goof."
That is one tame turtle. I have used the tips in this video to move turtles out of the road. Especially helpful is the suggestion about the car mat. I couldn't get my hands on the turtle, he was very aggressive, but I was able to push him on a car mat with my foot and drag him to the shoulder.
Thank YOU, Toronto Zoo! You have a very placid snapper there!! The ones I have encountered have a VERY strong response to human approach: Powerful pushups with head/neck lunges in the vicinity of human! I keep a snow shovel in trunk for assistance.
Thank you so much for posting this. I attempted to assist a large snapping turtle across the road and had limited success but feel empowered and well educated after watching this video. Thank you for your guidance in assisting these amazing creatures. We all need to do our part to help out wildlife, especially those in which we have encroached on their land
I punched this in, as to possibly find someone that experienced the same thing I experienced on a trip to my sisters over in PA. There was traffic off the Cul-de-sac road by my sisters held up by a good sized snapper turtle trying to cross the road. As the traffic grew, and the turtle slowed(LOL) I got out of the car and safely picked up the turtle to assist it to the other side. Every one was smiling and laughing and honking their horns to show their appreciation. There is something special about the town where my sister lives.
Great video! I started laughing when Mr. Turtle started snapping. I kept re-winding the video, trying to catch the second the turtle was snapping, but he was so fast, I couldn't! Yes, I agree with others - he was very patient during the demonstration. Thumbs up. Very helpful video. Thank you. Beth
I had to move a large snapping turtle yesterday as it was about to cross a busy highway. I didn't know the proper way to do it so I grabbed it by the tail. I am so glad I found this video so I know the right way to do it next time I find one. I have no doubt the one I saved would've gotten hit had a not moved it, but moving it the proper way is equally important. For anyone still reading, while I did not know how to pick it up, I have seen snappers in action many times. They are very quick. Don't put your hand even relatively near its face. They have very long necks, longer than you would think. They also have very sharp claws.
Disclaimer: If you are going to do this and grab it from the back I'd wear thick gloves for sure! I know someone that did this and somehow the turtles rear feet were still able to reach and it cut him quite good with it's claws!
Thank you! Found one hurt on a trail. The rescue said (voice mail) to put it in a Rubbermaid box with no water and wait for their call. Your vid made the interaction let traumatic for the turtle. You helped me and this fine shelled bud. Thank you again.
I live in New Jersey, USA. We have one land-dwelling turtle that is thriving in this area. It is the Box or Boxer turtle. Cute and friendly. But we also have ALOT of fresh and salt water turtles too. Most are harmless. BUT, snapping turtles can bite your fingers off.
I just saved one in Central Florida, not even 20 minutes ago, cross the road. Thank God I didn’t go with my instinct because I was going to pick him up by the side of his shell but something told me not to. I was fortunate to have a contractor driving by while I was helping the poor thing and he had a handtruck that we used to lift up the turtle. Mission accomplished thank you for this video though because I feel like it’ll help me in the future now that I know, I can grab them at the rear of their shell.
That's a good-natured turtle! This video is actually quite helpful. I helped a turtle that was slippery with algae and even though I had gloves I couldn't get a grip. I ended up sliding him into a loblaws plastic box - he wasn't very co-operative LOL. Your ways are better.
Ran into this very scenario today. 'Our' turtle was a LOT more aggressive than this one. Fortunately a passing police officer solved the problem. The turtle bit down on his baton and refused to let go, so he was able to drag him very gently across the grass and away from the road.
"Ok, thanks for the help acro... Wait what? You put me back in the road, why? Oh, again? Ok... Hey, stop that! Dude, just leave me in the road if you're going to be like that." Good video, I had to move a big feisty one off the road tonight on the way home from work and I about got bit. I'll keep these techniques in mind if I see them again!
This video was excellent, thank you. Last yr I stood at the side of the road to inform traffic till the girls where done laying. The folks passing by were interested, helpful and chatty, it was fun.
Their legs are also deceptively long. A big one raised up and looked like a table, then that long neck sticking out too, hissing! Poor thing was scared. Glad you posted this, gives me some options, once they stop impersonating a table, that is.
And WHY did the turtle cross the road? Because some humans put a road across the turtle's territory! Thanks for doing an excellent job of demonstrating several alternative methods of helping a large snapper across a road.
Thank you so much for this video! I passed by a massive alligator snapped waiting to cross with bad traffic. He got to the middle and then got stuck there. As all the cars slowed down to look no one was stopping. So as he tried again I heard a truck revving engine towards him. I ran to the middle to help him and he could not be lifted. Him being afraid made him hiss and lunge out his neck. Very scary. However the truck actually slowed and stopped in the middle to help me move him across. Mr. Turtle was not happy with us but he was alive!
I always stop and help turtles, though it's always been little box turtles or something similar. Until this morning. I just saved a snapping turtle from the road and I definitely wish I had seen this video earlier. The turtle I moved was MUCH bigger than this one, almost too heavy for me to carry. And I was SO scared. But I knew I couldn't just leave him. I picked him up exactly how this dude says not to, by placing both my hands on either side of his shell. Thank God I didn't get bit, but atleast now I know for in the future 🐢 😂
I could have used this a few years ago when I was helping one rather aggressive snapper get across the road where I live. One question, though: The guy I encountered was lightning fast, and any time I tried to get around to his back side, he just turned back around to face me. What then? I ultimately resorted to throwing a towel over him and picking him up with a pair of heavy gloves (which I think he could have penetrated if he'd reached me).
Distraction. Distract it with a stick or something (wave it and tap the ground in front of its face), and get behind it and move quick. If push comes to shove it is an option on smaller ones, I'd say up to 12(ish) pounds to pick the up by their back legs and carry them a short distance. Just watch them damn CLAWS! Unfortunate experiences with snappers while catfishing.
@@mystic_tacos I've since had a few more encounters where I've gotten our snapper friends on a large blanket, and then I just drag them across the road. Not as easy as it sounds, as you're trying to stay out of their reach while not dumping them off the blanket, but it's worked out. Just the other night, I picked up a box turtle off a local highway, getting a little wet in the process while thinking "I'm glad you're not a snapper." 😊
We see these a bunch and I've always picked it up by the sides of it's shell. I was relived when I heard the only downside to this is risk of getting bit - for a second I thought, "oh no I've been harming the turtle picking it up that way!" He's right about their long necks though, I've had some very close calls.
I found a wee snapper at the road's edge in '23. The direction she was going was dangerous & uphill. I scraped 9 leeches off her & she made an expeditious getaway back to her swamp.
I once saw a medium size snapping turtle on a busy road, snapping at the cars that drove over it. I managed to stop traffic, and tried to move it. That's how I discovered they can reach all the way around to their sides to bite. My reflexes were quick enough to narrowly save me from a bite. I wasn't going to try that again. I wound up taking my shirt off, throwing it over the turtle, and carrying it by the sides like that. Probably wasn't the best method. But traffic was backing up and drivers were getting angry and honking. It was all I could come up with, without walking away from the turtle and allowing the cars to put it in further danger.
I encountered one of these turtles today on my drive home from work. I was going in the opposite direction of traffic the side the turtle was on. I pulled over turned my car around and drove back to where the turtle was. There was a long line of fast moving traffic coming and I had no chance to get to her before the traffic would have gotten to the both of us. Everyone seemed to be dodging her and we were almost clear for me to go grab her and the very last car ran over her. My heart sunk. I then went and retrieved her and took her to the grass near the pond she had left. Her shell was broken and bleeding, I watched her take her few last breaths before she passed on. I had tears in my eyes feeling so bad I couldn't get to her in time.
That happened to me once last year. It was a painted turtle. I pulled over, but before I could get to her somebody in a truck ran her over. It is horrible when that happens. I still get upset thinking about it now. I'm sorry you had to experience that. I hope it doesn't deter you from helping out turtles in the future.
I'm sorry to hear you had the same experience. Like you it still upsets me to think about it. It would never deter me from trying again if the opportunity arises. :)
MsEnajaseret I swear people who run over turtles like that do it for sheer spite because they see that you want to move the poor critter out of the traffic.
Love the funeral music. Great choice. I've picked up thousands of them by the tail, not one have I ever seen get paralyzed. To do it properly on a large turtle, slide your hand up the shell and grasp the shell above the head then do the same with the other hand above the tail. Lift and move.
I've handled these for over 50 years. How I've done is as follows: Grasp by the tail, not to lift it, but steady it. Next slide your hand under the Plastron(bottom of turtle) Then lift the turtle. You still need to hold the tail as you're moving it, to keep it steady as you move it across a road.. Should it be a large one, you may need to rest your elbow against your chest, like a fulcrum.
Thanks for the great educational video. I've had trouble with snappers before but gotten them across the road with sticks and stuff. I have to say that was one patient turtle. :-)
I have often moved large snappers by holding mid-shell without being bitten as they really can not effectively bite that close to their shell, however they also have powerful legs and claws that can cause you to lose your grip if not wary! Unfortunately it might be critical to move the turtle fairly quickly if a busy road so not sure about trying to rig up a dragging tool unless very handy... probably dragging from rear of shell makes most sense.
I just helped a snapper across the road a couple of days ago, much bigger than the one in this video so she was very heavy. I had to grab her by the side bc she was way too heavy for any other hand positions and I didn’t know I could drag her with sounds painful. She did snap a couple of times and tried to get my hands off with her hind legs but I got her across safely and she disappeared in the grass right away. I didn’t find out it was a snapper until the next day bc I’m not from the states and thought they were only native to the southern states with swamps so I thought maybe I shouldn’t have touched it as they can be dangerous, but in hindsight I’m glad I did bc I would’ve always wondered if she was fine or got crushed if I hadn’t.
If you have a shovel in your car, you can use that and avoid putting your hands near the turtle. Snappers not only have a long neck, but they can also swap ends in a heartbeat, and they WILL bite.
Strangely enough, it was just the next day when I rescued a small regular turtle that was easy to pick up and take across the road. But then, just this Monday, it was a snapping turtle about the size in the illustration video BUT, when I tried to pick-up that very active snapper as suggested, there was no way my grip would hold that turtle so, whether doing any damage -- less than that of a car on a busy road (two cars following me just missed it) -- I used the tried and worked in the past method by grabbing by tail and putting across the road where I hope he was meaning to go. No photo as my car was illegally parked partly on a bust road and I had to get out of there. By coincidence, only a couple hundred feet were, a year or so, I saw dead on the road, a rather rare and beautiful Pilated Woodpecker that had been somehow hit and killed by a car.
Very informative; Thanks! We have a lot of turtles nearby where I work. However, the background music made it very difficult to hear the man speaking. I would suggest losing the music; its really not necessary.
I rescued one the other day. It was about 40 lbs, and I kid you not. Lord, this was a dangerous animal. Had to count my fingers when I was finished. And still...I don't think he appreciated what I did for him. No sir. He didn't appreciate it one bit.
What a great video Was photographing some snapping turtles and it was amazing how quickly they moved when you out of their scope of vision. The loss of broken eggs from predators was heart breaking.
The snapping turtle is very accommodating during this demonstration!
:0
😂
Snapping turtle didn’t have any choice in the matter. He was an unwilling participant.
Maybe he was a 'trained Turtle'!:) But I think the he/she was one that they found, by chance... Semper Fidelis
@@clcnj5365 The turtle was a paid actor.
very informative video - this turtle should get an academy award for being such a wonderful sport and putting up with so many performances!! :)
That turtle was like: "WTF?! put me down already!!"
haha I was thinking the same thing!
First thing that came to my mind.
Couldn't wait to post that. So glad this comment was first. Great minds think alike
😂😂😂 exactly
😂😂
Turtle's like "Yay freedom! ... awh damn .. Yay freedom! .. awh damn .. yay freedom! .. awh damn.. "
😂 🤣
A few years ago, I came across a large turtle crossing a fairly busy country road in Vermont. I put on my hazard lights, stopped the car and got out to help the turtle out of harm's way. It was a bit larger than the one in this video. When I picked it up, it surprised me with how heavy it was, and even more so by the fact that, as I started carrying him, he suddenly gave a tremendous "twist" by using its legs and head. The action was so powerful and unexpected that I lost my grip on him and he fell out of my hands and onto the pavement - about a 2 foot fall, as I had not straightened up while carrying him. His falling like that shocked the both of us, I think. I remember feeling really sorry for him and hoping he hadn't injured himself. But, after a pause to reassess, I picked him up again and held on more firmly this time and got him across the road, gently. I don't know if he was a snapping turtle or not. I didn't even know about snapping turtles back then. Well, I had heard the name, sure. But I didn't know that they could extend their necks like that and potentially injure a person. My other recollections of that incident were that he was surprisingly heavy. Also, that the drivers in Vermont are very patient, kind and understanding. I noticed there was quite a line of cars stopped in both directions as I finished dealing with the turtle. Yet, not one of the drivers had honked their horn, nor otherwise displayed any signs of impatience as I toiled. In fact, I got a few smiles and thumbs up from the cars I could see into as I returned to mine.
Last summer I saved a big snapping turtle that was crossing a street like the one in the video. He was way to frightened and defensive to let me try to pick him up, he kept jumping and turning to try to snap me. I ended up taking my shoe off and putting it in front of his face for him to bite and latch onto so I could drag him across a couple feet at a time. He kept letting go so I'd gently wave my shoe in his face for him to latch onto again to drag him a couple more feet until I got him across, up the curb and past the sidewalk. :)
Now that's ingenuity. How did your shoe hold up?
DragonStormGoddess -at least u didn’t give up!
I used a back pack the same way
That’s great of to do that- perfect idea, too!!🙂🙂
Susan A. Hahaha!! I was thinking the SAME THING!!!! 🙂
Just helped a big snapping turtle across a busy highway this morning. She was about the same size as the one you show in the video. She was feisty, unlike the one in this video. I got her safely across, went home and washed my hands, and drove back to check on her. She was long gone by the time I got back (only 3 minutes away). I take that as a good sign. :) :) :)
MJKsFan Tool is love
Thank you for being a kind steward of wildlife. Snapping turtles are endangered. The female I saw killed this morning was not so lucky to have someone like you or I happen along to save her life and the lives of her young. She appeared to have a full clutch. It made me so sad to think I was minutes away from saving her life and her babies before some idiot chose to end it.
@@thecontentcoachkim Where are snappers endangered?
@@mystic_tacos Sorry, perhaps a poor choice of words. Alligator snappers are close to being endangered. All snappers though are threatened. Their numbers are in decline due to pollution and habitat destruction.
@@mystic_tacos They are not. How is this important when showing how to prevent them from being killed & becoming endangered?
He is showing good techniques applicable to any turtles. Box turtles probably aren't going to need as much technique as just lifting them, but he was showing ho to help them.
I don't think being endangered was a theme.
That turtle must not have known if he was coming or going with all those trips back and forth. But he's alive! Great advice.
lmaooo!!!!!!
Guessing that should be she, since it is the females who head to shorelines to lay eggs.
My daughter and I came across a snapping turtle in Georgia recently, on a VERY busy road. We stopped to help him, my daughter kept telling me to pick it up and move it. First of all, it was big, and second, I KNEW not to pick it up by it’s sides because of its long neck. I kept kinda coaxing it with my foot and it finally started moving again. Excellent video!! Thank your for sharing the proper way!!
Word to the wise: Many aquatic turtles store a lot of water for their migration. Water that they may expel if they feel threatened. It's a very good idea to make sure their rear end is pointing off to the side so you don't get hosed down. And yes, the water is a bit foul smelling, you won't enjoy climbing back into your car with pants soaked with turtle water.
Lonicus Maximus good to know, thanks!
Happend to me already, when I was moving a turtle off the road through a marsh! No big deal. Change of pants and everything is back to normal! :) And the turtle was rescued from the road. :)
Also, the turtle needed that water, and now it's going to end up dehydrated. It's like making an underwater person blow out their air.
@@ChadTower ...yeah better to let it get hit in the road and die a horrible slow death...
@@ChadTower hmmm, mild discomfort and thirstiness vs becoming a pile of shell shards and guts in the middle of the road.
I choose saving it. Sure, it will be a little thirsty, but if you live in a wetland state, which most turtles do, it will only be a temporary problem, they can make more stops to refill in the next body of water they are bound to happen upon in their journey. They aren't fish, so it's more like making an amphibious person drop some water canteens.
A quick and easy way to move a snapper. I have used this on turtles up to 20 lbs. I carry a small fleece blanket in the car at all times (about 4 ft. sq.). Run to turtle, throw blanket over the top, pick up on sides, run it to the side in direction it was headed. I used to ignore Snappers because didn't want to deal with the claws or risk biting. Used this method many times. It's quick and they barely know what happened.
That is one patient turtle ! He was like DUDE - make up your mind !! Thanks for this important video. Our wildlife needs all the help it can get from us humans, since we do so much damage to the environment !
Turtle was like “why did I have to cross the road today...”
Turtle's like, :C'mon dude, that's enough, I'm gettin dizzy"
The turtle is Canadian, you goofs. Of course he's not going to snap when the nice fellow is demonstrating how to help him cross the road. The 9 people who gave this video a thumbs-down are obviously not Canadian.
I don't think it's wise to tell people who did not know that as goofs.
LOL. This made my day.
The turtle probably apologized ;-)
The turtle did snap at him twice and his help mate once. It was getting irritated with being jostled around. Any creature would. He just kept demonstration going. Turtle doesn't know if it's Canadian or not "Goof."
Do these people know what a joke is? Lol
That is one tame turtle. I have used the tips in this video to move turtles out of the road. Especially helpful is the suggestion about the car mat. I couldn't get my hands on the turtle, he was very aggressive, but I was able to push him on a car mat with my foot and drag him to the shoulder.
Thank YOU, Toronto Zoo! You have a very placid snapper there!! The ones I have encountered have a VERY strong response to human approach: Powerful pushups with head/neck lunges in the vicinity of human! I keep a snow shovel in trunk for assistance.
Thank you so much for posting this. I attempted to assist a large snapping turtle across the road and had limited success but feel empowered and well educated after watching this video. Thank you for your guidance in assisting these amazing creatures. We all need to do our part to help out wildlife, especially those in which we have encroached on their land
I punched this in, as to possibly find someone that experienced the same thing I experienced on a trip to my sisters over in PA. There was traffic off the Cul-de-sac road by my sisters held up by a good sized snapper turtle trying to cross the road. As the traffic grew, and the turtle slowed(LOL) I got out of the car and safely picked up the turtle to assist it to the other side. Every one was smiling and laughing and honking their horns to show their appreciation. There is something special about the town where my sister lives.
Great video! I started laughing when Mr. Turtle started snapping. I kept re-winding the video, trying to catch the second the turtle was snapping, but he was so fast, I couldn't! Yes, I agree with others - he was very patient during the demonstration. Thumbs up. Very helpful video. Thank you.
Beth
Turtle is like "WTF ARE YOU DOING WITH ME!?!"
Very helpful. I think Snappy was getting a bit tired of being the movie star by the end.
The best, most concise video I've seen on this topic. Thanks.
I had to move a large snapping turtle yesterday as it was about to cross a busy highway. I didn't know the proper way to do it so I grabbed it by the tail. I am so glad I found this video so I know the right way to do it next time I find one. I have no doubt the one I saved would've gotten hit had a not moved it, but moving it the proper way is equally important. For anyone still reading, while I did not know how to pick it up, I have seen snappers in action many times. They are very quick. Don't put your hand even relatively near its face. They have very long necks, longer than you would think. They also have very sharp claws.
That is such a chill turtle.
Disclaimer: If you are going to do this and grab it from the back I'd wear thick gloves for sure! I know someone that did this and somehow the turtles rear feet were still able to reach and it cut him quite good with it's claws!
Tried to help one this morning - he wasn't nearly as docile as your friend! Next time I'll know the secret. THanks, turtle whisperer!
This was way more entertaining than I suspect they intended...
Turtle, "I will never, ever try to cross a road again. Geez....let me get in with my day"
Great video. Just helped a turtle across myself. Almost got bit. Funny. This guy must be Bob Ross's brother and Mister Rogers cousin.
Turtle: ouch! You're hurting my claws!
this turtle sure is a good sport, I personally never seen a snapping turtle that even wants you near it...
Thank you!
Found one hurt on a trail. The rescue said (voice mail) to put it in a Rubbermaid box with no water and wait for their call. Your vid made the interaction let traumatic for the turtle. You helped me and this fine shelled bud.
Thank you again.
I don't think that turtle will ever want to cross the road again.
Apparently you can also give him a stick to bite down on so he doesn't do the same to you while you're moving him.
Thank you, Mr Tortimer, for letting us learn from you and helping all the turtles out there cross roads safely
This guy deserves praise- he didn’t miss a best when Snappy tried to get him!!
Great video, but I hope the poor turtle got a treat after being so cooperative!
I live in New Jersey, USA. We have one land-dwelling turtle that is thriving in this area. It is the Box or Boxer turtle. Cute and friendly. But we also have ALOT of fresh and salt water turtles too. Most are harmless. BUT, snapping turtles can bite your fingers off.
When he touches the turtles tail the turtles like : WOW dude your getting a little personal there.
I just saved one in Central Florida, not even 20 minutes ago, cross the road. Thank God I didn’t go with my instinct because I was going to pick him up by the side of his shell but something told me not to. I was fortunate to have a contractor driving by while I was helping the poor thing and he had a handtruck that we used to lift up the turtle. Mission accomplished thank you for this video though because I feel like it’ll help me in the future now that I know, I can grab them at the rear of their shell.
Thank you for helping turtles💗🐢💗
I always stop and help them cross
Bless you!
That's a good-natured turtle! This video is actually quite helpful. I helped a turtle that was slippery with algae and even though I had gloves I couldn't get a grip. I ended up sliding him into a loblaws plastic box - he wasn't very co-operative LOL. Your ways are better.
Awwww thank you!!! I see alot this year and had no idea how to get it across quicker!!!
How many times can a turtle cross the road? this one is going up for sainthood!
I had to move one yesterday and it scratched the shit outta me when I picked it up from behind 😂😂 it was worth it though
Remember, they also have very sharp claws!
That is the most sedate snapping turtle I've ever seen. We get them in the road here all the time, you can't get near most of them.
Good job! I have been saving Turtles crossing roads for years. Keep up the good work!
1:21 They see me rollin, they hatin
Ran into this very scenario today. 'Our' turtle was a LOT more aggressive than this one. Fortunately a passing police officer solved the problem. The turtle bit down on his baton and refused to let go, so he was able to drag him very gently across the grass and away from the road.
"Ok, thanks for the help acro... Wait what? You put me back in the road, why? Oh, again? Ok... Hey, stop that! Dude, just leave me in the road if you're going to be like that."
Good video, I had to move a big feisty one off the road tonight on the way home from work and I about got bit. I'll keep these techniques in mind if I see them again!
This video can potentialy help a lot snapping turtles. Good job.
This video was excellent, thank you. Last yr I stood at the side of the road to inform traffic till the girls where done laying. The folks passing by were interested, helpful and chatty, it was fun.
Their legs are also deceptively long. A big one raised up and looked like a table, then that long neck sticking out too, hissing! Poor thing was scared. Glad you posted this, gives me some options, once they stop impersonating a table, that is.
And WHY did the turtle cross the road?
Because some humans put a road across the turtle's territory!
Thanks for doing an excellent job of demonstrating several alternative methods of helping a large snapper across a road.
Thank you so much for this video! I passed by a massive alligator snapped waiting to cross with bad traffic. He got to the middle and then got stuck there. As all the cars slowed down to look no one was stopping. So as he tried again I heard a truck revving engine towards him. I ran to the middle to help him and he could not be lifted. Him being afraid made him hiss and lunge out his neck. Very scary. However the truck actually slowed and stopped in the middle to help me move him across. Mr. Turtle was not happy with us but he was alive!
I always stop and help turtles, though it's always been little box turtles or something similar. Until this morning. I just saved a snapping turtle from the road and I definitely wish I had seen this video earlier.
The turtle I moved was MUCH bigger than this one, almost too heavy for me to carry. And I was SO scared. But I knew I couldn't just leave him. I picked him up exactly how this dude says not to, by placing both my hands on either side of his shell. Thank God I didn't get bit, but atleast now I know for in the future 🐢 😂
I have A very wide aluminum shovel I keep in the truck for this , just slide it under them and walk them across the road
Same!!
I don’t know why but I cannot stop laughing while watching this video 😂
I could have used this a few years ago when I was helping one rather aggressive snapper get across the road where I live. One question, though: The guy I encountered was lightning fast, and any time I tried to get around to his back side, he just turned back around to face me. What then? I ultimately resorted to throwing a towel over him and picking him up with a pair of heavy gloves (which I think he could have penetrated if he'd reached me).
Distraction. Distract it with a stick or something (wave it and tap the ground in front of its face), and get behind it and move quick. If push comes to shove it is an option on smaller ones, I'd say up to 12(ish) pounds to pick the up by their back legs and carry them a short distance. Just watch them damn CLAWS! Unfortunate experiences with snappers while catfishing.
@@mystic_tacos I've since had a few more encounters where I've gotten our snapper friends on a large blanket, and then I just drag them across the road. Not as easy as it sounds, as you're trying to stay out of their reach while not dumping them off the blanket, but it's worked out. Just the other night, I picked up a box turtle off a local highway, getting a little wet in the process while thinking "I'm glad you're not a snapper." 😊
They really save their energy even when threatened.
We see these a bunch and I've always picked it up by the sides of it's shell. I was relived when I heard the only downside to this is risk of getting bit - for a second I thought, "oh no I've been harming the turtle picking it up that way!" He's right about their long necks though, I've had some very close calls.
Thanks for the handling instructions - you saved another snapping turtle, Toronto Zoo!
Thanks for taking the time and trouble to make and upload this video.
- Martin
Great video! I often come across turtles in the road, and while I always rescue them, this will help me refine my technique. :)
The turtle is probably thinking why does this guy keep making me cross the road!
I love the calming music while the turtle is trying to bite you lol
that turtle must by now loathe helpful humans. :D
I found a wee snapper at the road's edge in '23. The direction she was going was dangerous & uphill. I scraped 9 leeches off her & she made an expeditious getaway back to her swamp.
Great video. I just used it to help a turtle across a busy street this morning on my way to work.
They can jump a bit, too. Learned that the hard way!
Snapping turtles are kind of adorable in there own badass sort of way
I once saw a medium size snapping turtle on a busy road, snapping at the cars that drove over it. I managed to stop traffic, and tried to move it. That's how I discovered they can reach all the way around to their sides to bite. My reflexes were quick enough to narrowly save me from a bite. I wasn't going to try that again.
I wound up taking my shirt off, throwing it over the turtle, and carrying it by the sides like that. Probably wasn't the best method. But traffic was backing up and drivers were getting angry and honking. It was all I could come up with, without walking away from the turtle and allowing the cars to put it in further danger.
I encountered one of these turtles today on my drive home from work. I was going in the opposite direction of traffic the side the turtle was on. I pulled over turned my car around and drove back to where the turtle was. There was a long line of fast moving traffic coming and I had no chance to get to her before the traffic would have gotten to the both of us. Everyone seemed to be dodging her and we were almost clear for me to go grab her and the very last car ran over her. My heart sunk. I then went and retrieved her and took her to the grass near the pond she had left. Her shell was broken and bleeding, I watched her take her few last breaths before she passed on. I had tears in my eyes feeling so bad I couldn't get to her in time.
That happened to me once last year. It was a painted turtle. I pulled over, but before I could get to her somebody in a truck ran her over. It is horrible when that happens. I still get upset thinking about it now. I'm sorry you had to experience that. I hope it doesn't deter you from helping out turtles in the future.
I'm sorry to hear you had the same experience. Like you it still upsets me to think about it. It would never deter me from trying again if the opportunity arises. :)
MsEnajaseret I swear people who run over turtles like that do it for sheer spite because they see that you want to move the poor critter out of the traffic.
+MsEnajaseret Very sad!
In 3 minutes the turtle could've made it across the road 3 times without Mr. Helpful.
Often they just sit in the road and sun and end up dead
Did you drug that turtle? Where did its fight go?
OK, leave that poor turtle alone now.
Actually a lot of snapping turtles are nice and calm :) they probably raised the turtle
john weeks He was calmed by the soothing ambient music in the video
I had to move one of these guys off the road today and it didn't fight back at all until a random dog started barking at me
Did you not notice 2:26. Finally fed up.
Turtle is like "dude, why do you keep sliding me across the road and then putting me right back where I was??"
Love the funeral music. Great choice. I've picked up thousands of them by the tail, not one have I ever seen get paralyzed. To do it properly on a large turtle, slide your hand up the shell and grasp the shell above the head then do the same with the other hand above the tail. Lift and move.
lol turtle must've been so, so confused.
Is that a trained turtle? He was very cooperative!
Turtles sittin there by the end like "PICK A SIDE HERE, HOSS. I'M GETTIN SICK OF THIS BACK AND FORTH SHIT"
For its patience, that turtle deserves an extra head of lettuce for dinner .
I'm going to drag a turtle to the road and try all these techniques:)!
I've handled these for over 50 years. How I've done is as follows: Grasp by the tail, not to lift it, but steady it. Next slide your hand under the Plastron(bottom of turtle) Then lift the turtle. You still need to hold the tail as you're moving it, to keep it steady as you move it across a road.. Should it be a large one, you may need to rest your elbow against your chest, like a fulcrum.
Thanks for the great educational video. I've had trouble with snappers before but gotten them across the road with sticks and stuff. I have to say that was one patient turtle. :-)
That turtle was such a good turtle about the whole thing!!! 🐢
I have often moved large snappers by holding mid-shell without being bitten as they really can not effectively bite that close to their shell, however they also have powerful legs and claws that can cause you to lose your grip if not wary! Unfortunately it might be critical to move the turtle fairly quickly if a busy road so not sure about trying to rig up a dragging tool unless very handy... probably dragging from rear of shell makes most sense.
The turtle probably thought this dude was psycho helping him cross the road back and forth.
I just helped a snapper across the road a couple of days ago, much bigger than the one in this video so she was very heavy. I had to grab her by the side bc she was way too heavy for any other hand positions and I didn’t know I could drag her with sounds painful. She did snap a couple of times and tried to get my hands off with her hind legs but I got her across safely and she disappeared in the grass right away. I didn’t find out it was a snapper until the next day bc I’m not from the states and thought they were only native to the southern states with swamps so I thought maybe I shouldn’t have touched it as they can be dangerous, but in hindsight I’m glad I did bc I would’ve always wondered if she was fine or got crushed if I hadn’t.
If you have a shovel in your car, you can use that and avoid putting your hands near the turtle. Snappers not only have a long neck, but they can also swap ends in a heartbeat, and they WILL bite.
'No turtle (turtles, if you include the stunt double) was (were) harmed in making this video'
The turtles thinking.. "Are you helping me or you like touching my sweet body?"
That turtle is gonna have such neatly filed nails after these demos.
That turtle is chill af
Strangely enough, it was just the next day when I rescued a small regular turtle that was easy to pick up and take across the road. But then, just this Monday, it was a snapping turtle about the size in the illustration video BUT, when I tried to pick-up that very active snapper as suggested, there was no way my grip would hold that turtle so, whether doing any damage -- less than that of a car on a busy road (two cars following me just missed it) -- I used the tried and worked in the past method by grabbing by tail and putting across the road where I hope he was meaning to go. No photo as my car was illegally parked partly on a bust road and I had to get out of there. By coincidence, only a couple hundred feet were, a year or so, I saw dead on the road, a rather rare and beautiful Pilated Woodpecker that had been somehow hit and killed by a car.
Thanks a million for the video - came across one today and was very unsure of how to move it. Not anymore!
Very informative; Thanks! We have a lot of turtles nearby where I work. However, the background music made it very difficult to hear the man speaking. I would suggest losing the music; its really not necessary.
"Never grab it's tail" *proceeds to tug on tail*
I rescued one the other day. It was about 40 lbs, and I kid you not. Lord, this was a dangerous animal. Had to count my fingers when I was finished. And still...I don't think he appreciated what I did for him. No sir. He didn't appreciate it one bit.
What a great video
Was photographing some snapping turtles and it was amazing how quickly they moved when you out of their scope of vision.
The loss of broken eggs from predators was heart breaking.