I've received several e-mails including this eye-witness report indicating
that snappers aren't so strictly vegetarian after all! I have to wonder if
that is what happened to our goose.
Wendy Ealding
Chesterfield County
--- Begin Message ---Wendy,
- From: "Jay Keller" <azure.jay@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <WEalding@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 8 Sep 2006 18:58:42 -0400
A few weeks ago at Huntley, I witnessed a large snapping turtle move more
quickly than I thought they were able toward a young Canada Goose, jump on top
of it, bite it in the face, and drag it under the water while it fought like
crazy. It was amazing to see the spectacle unfold, and eliminate one of the
great destroyers of the environment (summer geese).
Jay
----- Original Message -----
From: WEalding@xxxxxxx
To: va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, September 08, 2006 9:59 AM
Subject: [va-bird] Canada Goose and Snapping Turtle
Thanks to all of you who responded to my post about the Snapping Turtle
feeding on the Canada Goose carcass. We rechecked the area this morning and
saw no sign of the remnants; they could have drifted off in the current from
the feeder stream or just sunk.
The majority opinion was that the turtle was scavenging, and that snappers
are primarily vegetarian.
Interestingly, we met a neighbor this morning who told us that her husband
had seen a snapper attempting to drown an adult duck in the same location. He
beat on the turtle with an oar and the duck managed to get away, although she
didn't know the outcome.
Wendy Ealding
Chesterfield County
--- End Message ---
