Snapping Turtle Laying Eggs

sketchfab

During a leisurely bike ride, I caught sight of a Snapping turtle laying eggs, carefully positioning herself to conceal her activity from potential threats. They remain remarkably still while laying their eggs, creating an ideal opportunity for observation. The turtle in question was quite large - measuring over 12 inches in length - and surprisingly cooperative, though I exercised caution, aware that snappers are notorious for their ferocity and ability to inflict serious injury. I kept a safe distance, respecting her boundaries as she tracked my movements with a discerning eye. Unfortunately, the model's head appears distorted due to the turtle's tendency to follow its observer, resulting in an unflattering angle. Observant readers may also notice that the turtle has chosen a precarious location for laying her eggs - right on top of tire tracks leading to a recently logged area. Here's hoping that the logging activities cease until her precious eggs hatch. This remarkable scene was captured using a Pixel 2XL camera in the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area, Columbus, Minnesota, USA. The resulting images were meticulously processed with Agisoft Metashape software.