Roadside nests are at risk of being destroyed by traffic, and eggs and hatchlings are also vulnerable to being eaten by other animals. As a result, any loss of mature individuals - in particular, egg-laying females - can impact the population. Snapping turtles can live over 70 years, and only reach sexual maturity at 15 to 20 years of age. They play an important role in the ecosystem as scavengers and help keep our waters clean.

Snapping turtles do not attack swimmers, and are only aggressive when provoked. Their reputation as aggressive, voracious predators has unfortunately also made them targets for persecution by people. They are particularly vulnerable to road mortality, because females often have to cross roads to find suitable nesting sites. Snapping turtles are assessed as special concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.Īlthough snapping turtles have few natural predators due to their size, their numbers have declined because of the loss of their wetland habitat. What is the snapping turtle's conservation status? They can be found in shallow freshwater habitats with slow-moving water and a soft mud or sand bottom. Snapping turtles are still fairly common in eastern Canada, but less so in the Prairies. In Canada, this species is found from southeastern Saskatchewan to Nova Scotia.

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