Witnessed some cool stuff today..

[worldtalker]

Got up at 4:30 had coffee,well took it with me and went down the Dam to check out the striper action..nada,it's been awhile now.I think it's from so many herring they get so thick you can walk on

them,a fish storybut they get dang thick and flash driving the stripers crazy to the point they don't want artificial baits,and you can't take the herring for bait.Any way about 7 I look down the bike path and see

something that didn't belong there,I really like this B-700 as I can zoom in to check things out,I didn't snap the shutter though but I did take a walk down there when I saw it was a snapper.She had crawled out of the

canal across the bike path..



and down to the sandy river bank and proceeded to dig a hole..



I sat on a log close enough I could touch her and just watched..



Killing time as I waited her to finish digging I saw this hellgrammite wondering around,now I know what leaves those centipede looking tracks.



Pretty soon she started dropping eggs..



I scooped the sand out so I could put my hand under her tail and caught six eggs to bring home to incubate.



I forgot these from yesterday,this is the first time I've seen the male and female setting together.




GOD Bless

Chris

 

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[tamrock]

I saw a snapper this last weekend, but it slipped back into the creek before I could get a picture of it.

 

[Mine Shaft]

Love the sharpness of your photos worldtalker, very nice.

 

[DizzyDigger]

Cool pics, but gotta ask....why did you take the eggs?

Were they in a spot where they wouldn't survive to hatch?

 

[worldtalker]

Cool pics, but gotta ask....why did you take the eggs?

Were they in a spot where they wouldn't survive to hatch?

I have wanted to incubate snapper eggs for decades,I'll release the young after hatching.

 

[WannaDig3687]

Use the hellgrammite as bait. See what you can catch.

 

[worldtalker]

Use the hellgrammite as bait. See what you can catch.

I caught 4 more this morning brought them home and 3 of them got out of the pan I had them in,I've looked and looked and can't locate them they are from the kitchen to the living room or in between,if my Wife sees one of them She'll FREAK OUT!

 

[WannaDig3687]

I caught 4 more this morning brought them home and 3 of them got out of the pan I had them in,I've looked and looked and can't locate them they are from the kitchen to the living room or in between,if my Wife sees one of them She'll FREAK OUT!

View attachment 1596319

View attachment 1596320

ahhhuumm, you’re in trouble!

 

[worldtalker]

ahhhuumm, you’re in trouble!

View attachment 1596329

Nah,I'll go get more in the morning.

 

[Megalodon]

I have wanted to incubate snapper eggs for decades,I'll release the young after hatching.

I'm not sure if this is legal in your state, but I question the wisdom of taking these eggs. Turtle hatchlings commonly use environmental cues that help them to return years after hatching - to the same nest area. In addition, environmental sex determination is common in turtles and other reptiles.

Before I retired after four decades as a biologist, I studied these magnificent creatures. I also enjoy seeing the females nest. But I would not take the eggs.

Great pics!

 

[BLK HOLE]

How long do you have to sit on them eggs

 

[Megalodon]

How long do you have to sit on them eggs

The hatchlings emerge in 70-90 days depending on temperature.

 

[worldtalker]

How long do you have to sit on them eggs

Image result for snapper turtle egg gestation
Eggs maintained at 68°F produce only females; eggs maintained at 70-72°F produce both male and female turtles; and those incubated at 73-75°F produce only males. Hatching takes approximately 80 to 90 days, but the hatch date can vary depending on temperature and other environmental conditions.

Right around my birthday..8/19

 

[Megalodon]

I know a highly skilled snapping turtle culturist who raises hatchlings by the hundreds of thousands for export to China - where the native species have been extirpated. His methods are very specific and sterile techniques are required.

It is possible for hatchlings to become infected and then transmit those infections to wild turtles. I would return the eggs ASAP and re-bury them at the same area, unless it is in a driveway or other place where the nest obviously won't survive.

https://www.mass.gov/guides/turtles-of-massachusetts

https://ontarioturtle.ca/get-involved/nesting/

 

[worldtalker]

I know a highly skilled snapping turtle culturist who raises hatchlings by the hundreds of thousands for export to China - where the native species have been extirpated. His methods are very specific and sterile techniques are required.

It is possible for hatchlings to become infected and then transmit those infections to wild turtles. I would return the eggs ASAP and re-bury them at the same area, unless it is in a driveway or other place where the nest obviously won't survive.

https://www.mass.gov/guides/turtles-of-massachusetts

https://ontarioturtle.ca/get-involved/nesting/

I was not aware of this,back to the river tomorrow.Thanks!

 

[Megalodon]

I have spoken to people who removed eggs because they have seen the high predation (typically by raccoons and foxes) on turtle nests and they justify taking the eggs because egg predation is so high (sometimes 100%). I observed highest predation in the first night after eggs were deposited, with decreased predation if it rained before or during that night, but this recent scientific publication reports that predation can occur throughout development:
http://canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/viewFile/1583/1600

Rather than take eggs for a sense of amateur scientific curiosity, I think you could leave the nest alone and sprinkle some red pepper or such on the nest surface in an attempt to throw off predators who rely on their sense of smell to find the eggs. Barking dogs discourage egg predators too, but dogs are rarely at nest habitat 24/7.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Great photos, thank you for sharing!

 

[Megalodon]

I was not aware of this,back to the river tomorrow.Thanks!

Good for you!

"Always do right; this will gratify some, and astonish the rest" - Mark Twain

 

[aortaclapper]

Love the sharpness of your photos worldtalker very nice.

 

[SnakemanBill]

I have wanted to incubate snapper eggs for decades,I'll release the young after hatching.

Do you actually know anything about incubating turtle eggs?