Snapping Turtle Soaks in the Rain

Ever since Hurricane Matthew swept through in early October we have been bone dry. Nearly two months of dry air. Today we had a light rain come for a visit for a while which was needed. It seems it was fairly welcome to some of the wildlife including an unusual sight just outside our office door. A Common Snapping Turtle.



I grabbed my camera from the car and spent some time circling the beast and 'snapping' photos. The rain was barely a mist but the turtle seemed to be trying to soak it all up.



Not sure where this Common Snapping Turtle came from. It was headed toward the canal below a steep drop off but that algae on its shell suggests it has been resting in water nearby. Trouble is, besides that canal there is not much standing water close by. Odd.



It was not a large specimen. Probably had a shell around football size. I has seen then many time large in local marshes.



I love getting close to Common Snapping Turtles. You tend to forget all the spikes they possess all over their heads. I especially love the chin whiskers!



We never saw where this modern dinosaur ended up but he moved on shortly after I headed back inside. Not too long after that, the rain was gone as well. Sigh.