Question: What do the snappers do in the winter, do they hibernate ?

Answer: Comon snapping turtles, which live in their Northern range, hibernate in winter. They are very hardy animals and sometimes can be even seen walking about even after a snawfall, but eventually they hibernate. They burry themselves in mud at the bottom of a lake or river and 'fall asleep'. Tey stop eating and their metabolism slows down. Their need for oxygen is minimal then, and the little they need they will absorb through their cloaca. They become active as the teperatures rise in spring. Much thinner then, they start to look for food and get ready fatting themselves up before next winter. To find out more about snapping turtle behavior please click here. Thanks for asking! Stan

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