Kansas Herpetofaunal Atlas

Distribution:
Records mapped in Collins (1994) for Cloud, Butler, Geary, and Jackson counties are unknown and therefore not plotted. Records mapped in Collins (1994) for Sumner County (KU 20519) is too imprecise to plot (county only). Eight specimens are known from Ottawa County (BYU 313, 1239, 1241-6) but only to county.
All types of freshwater habitats, especially those with soft mud bottom and abundant aquatic vegetation or submerged brush and logs. In brackish water in some areas. Mostly a bottom dweller. Hibernates singly or in groups in streams, lakes, ponds, or marshes; in bottom mud, in or under submerged logs or debris, under overhanging bank, or in muskrat tunnel; often in shallow water; sometimes in anoxic sites (Brown and Brooks 1994, Herman et al. 1995). Sometimes basks out of water, especially younger individuals and in far north.

Locality Dot Map:
The brown shaded areas () show the boundaries of properties in public or institutional ownership that contain ecological resources that merit some level of protection (KBS file). (, Museum Voucher) (, Observation) (, Literature Record). Export Google Earth (.kml)
Open icons indicate questionable records; Click on a marker to view details.

• Occurrence Summary:  
• 437 Total Records 
• 284 Museum Vouchers 
• 153 Other Observations 

County Breakdown: County Name (# occurrences): Some occurrences indicated below may be too imprecise to map.
Allen (4); Anderson (18); Atchison (4); Barber (10); Barton (4); Bourbon (8); Brown (2); Butler (5); Chase (2); Chautauqua (3); Cherokee (21); Cheyenne (1); Clark (4); Clay (1); Coffey (5); Comanche (3); Cowley (15); Crawford (11); Dickinson (2); Doniphan (10); Douglas (21); Edwards (2); Elk (4); Ellis (21); Ellsworth (2); Finney (2); Ford (1); Franklin (11); Geary (1); Gove (3); Graham (1); Grant (1); Greenwood (8); Harper (7); Harvey (1); Jackson (1); Jefferson (2); Jewell (1); Johnson (4); Kearney (1); Kingman (6); Kiowa (5); Labette (7); Leavenworth (2); Lincoln (1); Linn (4); Logan (4); Lyon (6); Marion (1); Marshall (8); McPherson (3); Meade (9); Miami (2); Mitchell (1); Montgomery (7); Morris (2); Morton (2); Nemaha (1); Neosho (8); Ness (1); Osage (2); Osborne (1); Ottawa (8); Pawnee (7); Phillips (2); Pottawatomie (2); Pratt (9); Rawlins (3); Reno (5); Republic (2); Rice (6); Riley (5); Rooks (1); Rush (1); Russell (6); Saline (4); Scott (2); Sedgwick (10); Seward (8); Shawnee (5); Sheridan (1); Sherman (3); Stafford (2); Sumner (7); Trego (5); Unknown (6); Wabaunsee (3); Wallace (1); Washington (5); Wilson (2); Woodson (2); Wyandotte (2);

Natural History:
They are slow-moving on land and appear short-tempered, standing their ground and attempting lunging strikes (much to the detriment of their relations with people). They are highly aquatic, seldom bask, but are often spotted when their snout and eyes break the water’s surface as they stealthily come up for a breath of air and to see what is happening above water. They are adept swimmers but, even so, if the water is clear enough, they are often seen crawling along the bottom of the ponds and streams they live in.
Eggs are laid mostly in the second half of May and in June. Clutch size averages 20-35 and sometimes exceeds 100. Hatchlings emerge in 2-4 months (August-September). Females are sexually mature in about 7 years. The mean age of nesting females is estimated at 33-40 years. 
Burt and Hoyle (1935) reported that on 9 August 1933, Miss Virginia Stuber found 14 eggs of this species in the mud at the edge of Black creek, near Winfield, Cowley county, Kansas. The mass of eggs was drying out, but there had been sufficient moisture present for their development. All of the shells were "pipped," but the young snappers were dead in six of the eggs. Those in the other eight hatched on the same day as they were found..
Common Snapping Turtle exhibit temperature dependent sex determination. Those incubated between 71-77 deg F produce predominately males, while cooler or warmer temperatures produce females.

Occurrence Activity:

Remarks:
Common and widespread in eastern North America; tolerates disturbed habitats; readily colonizes newly created habitats; no significant threats. Usually common where found. Numbers can be very high in some habitats.

Snapping Turtles may be taken year-round. Daily creel limit is eight turtles, single species or in combination (with Spiny Softshells and/or Smooth Softshells). Possession limit is three creel limits. A valid fishing license is required (unless exempt). Legal equipment: hand, hook and line, setline, hand dip net, seine, turtle trap, or gig.

Bibliography:

Account Last Updated:
11/19/2018 2:22:55 PM