Reptiles

Snapping Turtle Welfare: Road Mortality and the Pet Trade

Snapping turtles are long-lived freshwater reptiles facing severe threats from road mortality, hunting, and the exotic pet trade.

Key Facts

Common snapping turtles can live 40+ years in the wild
They cross roads annually to lay eggs, with females often killed by vehicles
Snapping turtles take 12-20 years to reach sexual maturity
In some US states they can be hunted commercially with no bag limits
They are increasingly exported to Asian food markets

Welfare Considerations

Road mortality is the leading cause of adult female snapping turtle death, removing the most reproductively valuable individuals from populations. Snapping turtle hunting can cause severe injuries when turtles escape with hooks or are transported alive in poor conditions. Their slow reproductive rate makes population recovery from overexploitation extremely slow.

What You Can Do

Help turtles cross roads safely by moving them in the direction they were heading
Never pick up snapping turtles by their tails, which injures their spine
Advocate for turtle crossing signs and wildlife culverts on busy roads
Support snapping turtle hunting moratoriums in overharvested regions
Report illegal snapping turtle collection for the commercial trade