Chelydra serpentina

As if the name isn’t daunting enough, the common snapping turtle, in its adult form, has a decidedly alarming appearance, with a large hooked jaw at one end and a long tail topped with jagged tooth-like projections at the other. Loose warty skin covers the neck and scaly legs end in claws.

Adding to their frightening allure is a fairly unfriendly attitude toward strangers. Although primarily passive in water, snapping turtles display ferocious behavior when encountered on land—snapping with enough force to maim a finger and assuming a characteristic stance where the turtle elevates its hindquarters, opens its mouth, hisses and lunges forward repeatedly and sometimes even emits an offensive odor.

While still a baby, the same turtle is downright adorable—and displays a much more pleasant demeanor.

This young snapper, found crossing Route 739 in Lords Valley, PA, exhibited no threatening behavior when I picked it up and moved it off the road. Adults, which can grow up to 50 pounds and reach 18 inches in length, are another matter. Attempting to handle an adult snapper is not advised, since they can easily damage digits with their powerful jaws.

Unlike other turtles, snappers rarely bask on logs or rocks, preferring to rest in shallow waters with their eyes and nostrils projecting just above the water’s surface. Considered a scavenger, this turtle is omnivorous, eating everything from aquatic plants to fish and small mammals. Snappers even consume carrion and an occasional hapless duckling.