Egg laying time for mamma snapper
This Snapping Turtle is making a mighty contribution to the food chain. Eggs will be served up for raccoon, skunk, squirrel, and a great host of willing natural diners. A nest will consist of a buried deposit of 25 or more eggs which will take up to 75 days to hatch, if they make it that far. After hatching they continue to contribute to the local food chain as a predators delight. Its no wonder the survivors are know for their fierce demeanor.
the Ordinary Hiker 
Survival of the fittest (and luckiest) for sure!
It’s definitely no wonder. Actually it’s a wonder ANY of them survive.
Definitely a sheer numbers game.
Great photo, I love the duck weed, looks like she just climbed out of the swampy water… She looks like she is a fierce survivor…
You observe correctly. She’s a survivor, even out of water!
I have a large snapping turtle that makes the trek up a very steep hill from a little creek to a farm pond every year. I assume it also goes back to the creek in the fall…..I just usually catch it on it’s way to the pond. They can have a nasty demeanor. Guess they must to survive.
I have seen some pretty amazing climbs. They just don’t seem built for the climb but that tenacious demeanor wins out.