Oh blessed event… Though 2 weeks post dates, our little snappers have arrived. It was Saturday morning, September 14, 109 days after Mrs. T so gracefully deposited her eggs deeply into the sand before returning to the creek, leaving her latchkey offspring behind. This task was completed 2 days after Memorial Day. If you read the previous article, The Legend of Mrs. T, then you learned about this yearly happening that I was privileged to witness for the first time.
The odds are against them, but somehow, a few survive to carry on their legacy. Studies show that only 5% of snapping turtle eggs laid will hatch and only 1% of the hatchlings will survive to repeat this cycle once they reach reproductive age, which is typically 8 to 10 years. They face many predators along the way, including during their incubation in the sand. Notorious egg robbers, such as racoons, foxes, mink, skunks and snakes present a deadly threat. Immediately after they hatch, they remain vulnerable as they make their way to the stream. Here, the major threat is birds. But they may also fall victim to motor vehicles as with their small size they are not easily seen in the roadway. Once in the stream, other villains join in the pursuit, such as heron, large fish, and even other turtles. Should they survive this precarious journey, snapping turtles can live up to 40 years or more.
Well, I was certainly taken to have a front row seat to this annual event. I later learned that once they emerge from the ground, it might be a good idea to help them out by providing uber service, placing them closer to the water to at least lessen a few threats enroute. I liken this to placing a newborn baby onto his/her mother’s chest immediately after delivery to facilitate breastfeeding and bonding. The turtle route is much less emotional, of course, with no mother to bond with. But this would place little snappers closer to their food source.
Anyway, I only observed 2 babies, which would fall right in line with projected survival rates, making this even more of a spectacular event to witness. Next year I hope to be their personal ambulatory uber driver. Until then, I’ll keep watch for more of what nature might have in store from my front row seat.
- The Fish Dimension - October 10, 2024
- They’ve Arrived! - September 28, 2024
- A Night’s Tail - September 19, 2024