- Joined
- Oct 13, 2004
- Messages
- 991
There are lots of snapping turtles here in New York, you are welcome to come visit anytime!
Need Help Finding Certain Vertebrates.
- Thread starter Sheri
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2003
- Messages
- 142
I have been lucky enough to have seen several badgers in the past year. It has been in the late afternoon - early evening. Everyone I have seen has been in very rocky areas close to a slope in the mountain. I will have to try and find my pictures. They were a lot bigger than I expected.
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2003
- Messages
- 2,355
That would be great! Were they just hanging out? Digging? Hunting?
I became really interested in badgers as a kid when I read this book. The locale that it happened in was really close to where I lived outside the city.
They're really neat animals and I wonder how strong our population is. There has been little research but BC did an analysis and found the numbers to be much less than expected. I wonder if it is the same in other parts of Canada, especially here in the prairies where there is so much agriculture. They're really dependant on certain species of rodents, and many ground colonies have been disrupted.
I became really interested in badgers as a kid when I read this book. The locale that it happened in was really close to where I lived outside the city.
They're really neat animals and I wonder how strong our population is. There has been little research but BC did an analysis and found the numbers to be much less than expected. I wonder if it is the same in other parts of Canada, especially here in the prairies where there is so much agriculture. They're really dependant on certain species of rodents, and many ground colonies have been disrupted.
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2003
- Messages
- 142
I believe they were hunting. The first time I saw them, there were two and they were chasing after the squirrels. I saw one on easter sunday and he was just out walking around, so I am not certain what he was up to.
Still looking through my pictures. I really need to organize them better.
Still looking through my pictures. I really need to organize them better.
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2005
- Messages
- 3,200
I've been meaning to post on this thread again.
Sheri, if you want to see a snapping turtle in it's natural habitat you'll most likely need scuba gear. IME, snapping turtles don't like to leave the water unless it's imperative. Or if they're on a hook.
If you want to photograph one, I'd reccomend a good telephoto lens.
To sneak up on them, you need to be very quiet. They seem to be sensitive to sound. In most of the lakes I fish at, they slip into the water at the slightest disturbance from shore. They usually appear a short time later a little bit away. This is the best time to catch them.
Sheri, if you want to see a snapping turtle in it's natural habitat you'll most likely need scuba gear. IME, snapping turtles don't like to leave the water unless it's imperative. Or if they're on a hook.
If you want to photograph one, I'd reccomend a good telephoto lens.
To sneak up on them, you need to be very quiet. They seem to be sensitive to sound. In most of the lakes I fish at, they slip into the water at the slightest disturbance from shore. They usually appear a short time later a little bit away. This is the best time to catch them.
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2003
- Messages
- 2,355
Welllllll....
Maybe not.
Maybe not.
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2004
- Messages
- 1,763
Finally found one, huh? Congrats! That's a nice one. Did you see any others at that lake/pond?
That's a nice one. Did you see any others at that lake/pond?
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2003
- Messages
- 2,355
Nah, David, this was from last summer. Total luck. It just happened to be wandering, as relaxed as coiuld be, back into the pond. She was huge - mature, I'd guess.
Haven't found one this season yet - Lelle is pretty fixated on finding one. I'm sort of more into the badgers/bears right now.
Haven't found one this season yet - Lelle is pretty fixated on finding one. I'm sort of more into the badgers/bears right now.
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2005
- Messages
- 604
Found this one in my basement last year, still can't figure out how it got there.
What you need to find bears is a good old fashion above ground garbage dump, go at around dusk. Probably pretty rare these days though, a dump that is...
That or find out where the pro guides take people on hunts. They usually bait the unfortunate critters all year 'round with day old donunts or something so come hunting time they know exactly where they'll be.
Bill
What you need to find bears is a good old fashion above ground garbage dump, go at around dusk. Probably pretty rare these days though, a dump that is...
That or find out where the pro guides take people on hunts. They usually bait the unfortunate critters all year 'round with day old donunts or something so come hunting time they know exactly where they'll be.
Bill
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2003
- Messages
- 2,355
Yeah, in moments of weakness and desperation, I've given way to temptation and checked on the dumps which is the only way I saw the two live ones I did, a few years ago.
I thought about the baiting stations but... doing it that way would take most of the enjoyment away for me. I really want to just find them naturally, being bears, and not consuming human trash.
I know if I just keep looking, it will happen one day. Black bears are generally active during the day with exception of heavily populated areas by humans - then they prefer to come out at night.
Ummm... can I come stay in your basement for awhile?
I thought about the baiting stations but... doing it that way would take most of the enjoyment away for me. I really want to just find them naturally, being bears, and not consuming human trash.
I know if I just keep looking, it will happen one day. Black bears are generally active during the day with exception of heavily populated areas by humans - then they prefer to come out at night.
Ummm... can I come stay in your basement for awhile?
Last edited:
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2004
- Messages
- 991
AAWW, Bill, that's sooooo cuuuuuuttte! What did you end up doing with it?billopelma said:
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2005
- Messages
- 604
Tossed it into the beaver pond out in the woods behind my house. Thats probably where Mom came from, they travel quite a distance sometimes to lay eggs. They're not so cute after you see 'em eat. Back when, I used to keep those little ones in vivarium setups, usually just for a few months. They sneak up on prey (tadpole, bluegill, earthworm, grasshopper...), grab it and immediatly retreat to the deepest part of the tank. Pinning it into a corner, they'll rip it to shreds with their claws, like it's furiously digging a hole, then chow down on the mess. They are also like alligators in that they will stash bodies for later consumption and to let it 'soften up' a bit. You get sick of cleaning up after 'em and back to the swamp they go.
I think egg time is in another few months, that's when you see the snappers out of the water, crossing the road or digging up your garden. I also see them quite often when kayaking on local streams, when it's shallow enough to follow them along till they reach cover. There are rumors of 3' diamteter ones in the conneticut river but it's like the 14" blondi, seeing would be believing. Saw my first good closeup of a Blandings turtle last year, and also a yellow spotted on the road that I played crossing guard for.
A cool looking box turtle that was 'just passing through' my yard. Mean little bugger, was hissing at me when I offered it an earthworm.
I think egg time is in another few months, that's when you see the snappers out of the water, crossing the road or digging up your garden. I also see them quite often when kayaking on local streams, when it's shallow enough to follow them along till they reach cover. There are rumors of 3' diamteter ones in the conneticut river but it's like the 14" blondi, seeing would be believing. Saw my first good closeup of a Blandings turtle last year, and also a yellow spotted on the road that I played crossing guard for.
A cool looking box turtle that was 'just passing through' my yard. Mean little bugger, was hissing at me when I offered it an earthworm.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 171
"They[badgers] are mostly nocturnal and very shy creatures."
hmmmm wonder if the ones in Montana just have a chip on their shoulder? i cant count the number of times a torqued of badger "treed" me in the back of a pick-up during the day while out in the hills. the ones around here are notoriously bad tempered.
BTW cool turtle photos
hmmmm wonder if the ones in Montana just have a chip on their shoulder? i cant count the number of times a torqued of badger "treed" me in the back of a pick-up during the day while out in the hills. the ones around here are notoriously bad tempered.
BTW cool turtle photos
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2005
- Messages
- 3,200
oddly enough, I have a similar story involving a hobobillopelma said:
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2003
- Messages
- 142
Maybe they are ill tempered because they are in northeast Montana.rattler_mt said:
I am in southwestern Montana and have seen them several times during mountain hikes during the day. Fortunately none of them have messed with me, but have definitely kept their eyes on me.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 171
lol where in southwest Montana are you? i lived in Butte for 6 months bout 5 years ago. currently im in Wolf Point.
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2003
- Messages
- 142
I am in Bozeman. I have only been through Butte on my way to Discovery.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 171
ahhhhhh Bozeman, ok town, partied over there with friends of mine during college(which is why i was in Butte), beautiful part of the state but ill stick to my badlands and river bottoms. up until a few weeks ago my wife and i were thinking about moving to Helena but some stuff got finalized here so we are sticking around, better hunting and fishing on this side of the state anyways
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2003
- Messages
- 142
Not totally convinced I like Bozeman. I've only been here a little more than a year. It is beautiful here though. I like Helena and would move there in a heartbeat. I will let you keep the hunting and fishing and I will keep the incredible skiing and hiking.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 171
dont know, hiking the badlands at Makoshika state park(in MT, 100 miles from my front door) and Theodor Roosevelt state park(in ND, bout 150 miles away) and walking the timber in Charles M. Russel Wildlife national wildlife refuge around Fort Peck(bout 90 miles away) is about as good and interesting as hiking Glacier, the sights are different but i like them about equal