Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:08 pm Re: Found a dead common snapping turtle (with picture)
All of southern Ocean County NJ is prime habitat for these turtles, we are the last road before the woods, less than 5 minutes drive from the bay and less than 10 minutes from the open ocean, so this is his home turf. People have said snappers don't traverse the "ocean side" of the islands, but they do. My grandparent's house is on that side and over 10 snapping turtles have come onto their beach, and some have laid eggs in their yard. The turtles must traverse 18+ miles to go around Long Beach Island, but they do it.
The skin is shriveled and the skull has been hollowed out, if I had to estimate a time of death, I wouldn't say the body is older than 3 or 4 days. I wish I had found him alive, it's been a long time since I've found one that size alive.
Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there. Eighty are just targets. Nine are the real fighters and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Oh, but one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back. -Heraclitus of Ephesus
