Last night I celebrated the summer solstice by releasing a snapping turtle. He had been hit by a car at the end of April on his way across a busy road to the river where he spends his summers. Luckily his finder watches for him every year to help him cross and was able to get him into care right away. He healed up and finally made it to the river, where he swam off into the sunset.

#WildlifeRehabiliation #CommonSnappingTurtle #solstice #turtle

This is a common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). They are the state reptile of New York, and this one was chomping through reeds. It was about the size of a large pizza.

#commonsnappingturtle #ChelydraSerpentina #turtle #statereptile #nys #jamaicabay #wildliferefuge #nps #nature #wildlife #canonphotography #luminarneo

I wish I could get out and see some healthy, happy turtles in the wild, but injured turtles keep coming in so I just look out the window like one of the snapping turtles I currently have in care. I'm also carefully monitoring the temp in my incubator, which contains four clutches of eggs from moms who didn't make it across the road to their nesting spots and couldn't be saved.

#WildlifeRehabilitation #CommonSnappingTurtle #BrakeForTurtles

One injured turtle in last night. Waiting in the car now for a volunteer transporter to bring me another one. It is 85F/29C in northeastern New York where it is normally 50F in April. There was still snow on the ground this morning. This is ridiculous. Turtle season shouldn't start until mid-May, but I can't blame them for wanting to get out in the sun. Watch out for turtles, friends. They are on the roads.

#WildlifeRehab #CommonSnappingTurtle

She looks silly grabbing that food, but I was doing a happy dance. This #CommonSnappingTurtle ate on her own yesterday for the first time in 20 months. She'd been hit by a car during nesting season 2021 and had severe head trauma and a broken beak. Turtles heal slowly from head injuries and all I can do is provide supportive care, wait, and hope they come around. Some don't, so I celebrate milestones like this, no matter how silly.

#WildlifeRehab #turtle #Adironacks