Snapping turtles have a very intimidating look, they have a sharp beak, spiked shells, and dangerous-looking claws, but are they really that dangerous? I decided to do some research on this subject, here is what I found out.
Are snapping turtles dangerous? Snapping turtles can be dangerous. If you scare the turtle there is a good chance that it will fight back. But if you leave them alone they won’t present any danger to you. It all depends on how you handle the situation.
It’s easy to judge how dangerous a snapping turtle is just by the stories you hear about them. But most of them are just exaggerations. A snapping turtle is not a simple-minded animal that will attack everything is sight, and it definitely won’t be able to break your bones with just a bite. They are very different than what you hear in those stories. So let’s see how dangerous a snapping turtle really is.
The Different Type of Snapping Turtles
There are two types of snapping turtles, the common snapping turtle and the alligator snapping turtle. And one of them is considerably more dangerous than the other.
Let’s start with the more dangerous one the common snapping turtle.
The Common Snapping Turtle
The snapping turtle is an aquatic turtle, this means that they spend most of their time in the water.
A common snapping turtle will usually be smaller than an alligator snapping turtle, usually reaching sizes between 12 and 15 inches. But some specimens are able to reach even bigger sizes, sometimes reaching up to 19 inches. So they can get pretty big compared to other turtles.
Between the two species of snapping turtles, the common snapping turtle is the most numerous one. And they can be found in almost the entirety of the eastern half of the United States, and in some parts of Mexico.
Common snapping turtles have a somewhat rough appearance but are not very different from what most turtles have. The thing that sets them apart from most turtles is their mouth, which is shaped like a very sharp beak.
They are omnivorous, which means that they eat both meat and plants. When it comes to the meat they will scavenge, or actively hunt their prey in the water.
Compared to the alligator snapping turtle, the common snapping turtle is considerably more aggressive. If they think that there is a small possibility that they are in danger they will attack immediately.
Now let’s move to the alligator snapping turtle.
The Alligator Snapping Turtle
The alligator snapping turtle is also an aquatic turtle, so they also spend a lot of time in the water.
The alligator snapping turtle is considerably bigger than the common snapping turtle, usually reaching sizes between 15 and 26 inches. The biggest known alligator snapping turtle reached 31.5 inches. They are some of the biggest turtles found in America.
The alligator snapping turtles have a smaller population than their counterparts, and they can usually be found in the southeastern United States.
Compared to the common snapping turtle, they look very dangerous. They have a black shell, compared to the lighter shades that the common snapping turtle usually has. They have spikes on their tearing, and on their skin, and they have a more pronounced and sharper beak, that is made for tethering through the meat.
But despite their rough appearance, they are a lot more peaceful than the common snapping turtles. You still don’t want to mess with them, but they are a lot calmer.
They are also omnivorous, the major difference is that they don’t hunt their prey. Instead, they lay on the bottom of the lake, or pond with their mouths open, waiting for the pray to get close to them. So they don’t actively hunt their prey.
Another thing that differentiates them is that alligator snapping turtles have a much bigger mouth than the common snapping turtles.
Now let’s see why snapping turtles are so aggressive.
Why are snapping turtles more aggressive than other turtles
When most turtles feel that they are in danger, they will retract into their shells. But a snapping turtle won’t do that, instead, it will charge at its attacker and try to hurt or scare it.
The reason why snapping turtles won’t retract in their shells is that they can’t. Their shells are not big enough. The carapace, the top part of the shell is too small to efficiently cover their body. And the plastron, the bottom part of the shell, is very small when you compare it to other turtles. Here is a photo that shows the plastron of a snapping turtle and one that shows the plastron of a red eared slider turtle.
Since they are unable to retreat in their shells they have no other option than to attack. This is the only option left for them.
In general snapping turtles won’t leave their aquatic habitat if they don’t have a reason. And the most common reason why they leave their water habitat is that they have to lay eggs. And during this time they are vulnerable, so they will feel threatened very easily.
So if you meat a snapping turtle on a road, or in another populated area, they are probably just trying to find a safe place to lay their eggs. And even if turtles don’t take care of their eggs after they lay them, they will protect them while they are inside of them.
Now let’s see how dangerous a snapping turtle bite really is.
The Bite of a Snapping Turtle
The first thing that is important to know about the force of the bite is that it’s relative to the size of the turtle. The bigger the turtle, the more power the bite will have.
Between the two species, the bite of an alligator snapping turtle is definitely more powerful and dangerous than the bite of a common snapping turtle. This is because the alligator snapping turtles can get a lot bigger than the common ones. And the fact that they have a sharper beak also contributes to the danger. With the sharper beak, they will be able to penetrate the meat deeper, and they might also be able to tear it off.
Another important thing about the bite is that there are two different types of bites. The first one is a quick bite, usually referred to as a snap. When a turtle bites you this way they will bite and then let go very quickly. It is dangerous, but there are smaller chances of serious injury.
The second type of bite is a lot more dangerous. When a turtle feels very threatened they will bite you and then they won’t let go. This will cause a lot more damage than a simple snap. And if a snapping turtle bites you this way, the danger is even bigger due to their sharp beaks that can cut through the meat the more they maintain the bite.
One other dangerous part about the bite that is mostly overlooked is that it can infect you with bacterias. Turtles carry a lot of different bacterias that can be very harmful to humans. And if you are bitten by any kind of turtle and there is blood on your skin, you have to go to the doctor as fast as possible to properly disinfect the bitten area.
If you are ever bitten by a turtle and the turtle doesn’t let go immediately, don’t hit the turtle. Hitting the turtle will only make things worse. Instead try putting the turtle into the water, gently pour water over it, or wait until it releases the bite. Some people have tried to put alcohol where the turtle is biting and it seems to work, but I can’t guarantee that.
Before I show you some videos of how powerful the bite of a snapping turtle is, let me tell you a few tips on how to avoid getting bitten by a turtle.
How to Avoid Getting Bitten by a Turtle
The best way to protect your fingers is to keep them away, so don’t feed your turtle with your hand, you can just place the food on the ground. Turtles don’t care how they get their food as long as they get it.
If you want to protect your toes then you should hide them, so don’t wear slippers or any kind of footwear that will keep them visible.
If you own a turtle and you don’t want to get bitten then you should make sure that it’s well fed. If a turtle is hungry it will try to eat anything that it’s remotely close to food.
Don’t stress out the turtles, even if they are peaceful by their nature, they will still attack you if they are stressed out and they feel in danger.
If a wild turtle seems very agitated you should try to keep your distance, it can always bite you if you get too close.
And always try to handle them with care, If you properly handle a turtle there is no chance that you will get bitten, so avoid placing your hand anywhere close to its mouth.
Examples of snapping turtle bites
Here are two videos filmed by professionals and who know what they are doing. In any case please don’t try to do anything similar.
Example of common snapping turtle biting:
Example of alligator snapping turtle biting:
Related Questions
Can snapping turtles bite you underwater? Yes, they can. But in general snapping turtles don’t do it. They are not as aggressive as people think, and they won’t attack unless they have a reason.
Do snapping turtles attack other turtles? Yes, alligator snapping turtles are known to attack other turtles.
How long can a snapping turtle live? In general, they live between 50 and 70 years. The age that they reach generally depends on how harsh the habitat that they live in is.
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