Fresh from the Garden! by Sara Payne

Fresh from the Garden!

These Snapping Turtle hatchlings started appearing in our garden this morning! Almost every year, we see a large female who appears to be looking for a place to lay eggs in our garden. A couple of months ago, my husband saw her in the process and afterwards put a loose covering of boards over the site to offer protection from the raccoons and fox. As many of 90% of turtle nests are raided before the babies hatch. The make-shift fortification worked, and this morning my husband called me down when he saw a little critter scooting across the driveway. We watched another 9 emerge and saw that there are more still to come. Only 1 in 20 hatchlings survives its first year, so we increased their odds a little by providing them a safe journey to their home pond. We may have cheated an owl or hawk out of a snack, but there isn't anything we can do to protect the hatchlings from the herons and even adult Snapping Turtles that think these little babies make a tasty morsel. That's Mother Nature for you....

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Sara Payne
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Member since September 03, 2011

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  • Andrea Herman

    Andrea Herman

    commented over 1 year ago

    That's a lot of little snappers! They're sure cute at this age.

  • Scott Board

    Scott Board

    commented over 1 year ago

    They look like a new variety of Oreo Cookies.

  • Sara Payne

    Sara Payne

    commented over 1 year ago

    You know, Scott, the really do! Even that slightly sandy texture!

  • Sharon Stoltzman

    Sharon Stoltzman

    commented over 1 year ago

    How kind that you put down protection for them, Sara. Nice reward in for you and for us seeing so many survive. Wonderful photo!

  • Westen Thomas

    Westen Thomas

    commented over 1 year ago

    Cute! They look like mini dinosaurs. Cool photo.

  • Diana Waddell

    Diana Waddell

    commented over 1 year ago

    so cool!!!

  • Dan Anderson

    Dan Anderson

    commented over 1 year ago

    Baby dinosaurs! Those were like the holy grail find when I was a kid - awesome

  • Brian Pinske

    Brian Pinske

    commented over 1 year ago

    Wow!! That's just amazing!!! great story!

  • Dorothy May

    Dorothy May

    commented over 1 year ago

    Just Precious! Great shot!

  • Greg Granger

    Greg Granger

    commented over 1 year ago

    Very kewl. Glad you helped them out!

  • Dan Kern

    Dan Kern

    commented over 1 year ago

    Great find.

  • Patrick Stewart

    Patrick Stewart

    commented over 1 year ago

    Don't hold them up to your face to look them in the eye, I learned that the hard way. Neat Photo Sara.

  • Sara Payne

    Sara Payne

    commented over 1 year ago

    Patrick, what happened? ; )

  • Patrick Stewart

    Patrick Stewart

    commented over 1 year ago

    my friend had two a bit bigger than these but not much larger than a silver dollar in his aquarium, and I picked one up in my palm and lifted him to eye level to get a good look at him, and he latched onto my nose and took a nice chunk with him, was pretty funny we were all laughing ... them mostly ... But as these guys get bigger it's no laughing manner, they will easily snap bones ... so everyone be careful if you see a big one they can hurt you pretty good. I've seen them snap 1/2 inch thick fence posts in half.

  • Paula Moyer

    Paula Moyer

    commented over 1 year ago

    Wow -- great capture and caption, Sara.

  • Jon Larson

    Jon Larson

    commented over 1 year ago

    Great shot Sara! I thought it was some type of chocolate! Nice story!

  • Richard House

    Richard House

    commented over 1 year ago

    Very cool Sara!

  • william sinnen

    william sinnen

    commented over 1 year ago

    great shot and story...

  • Norbert Lucas

    Norbert Lucas

    commented over 1 year ago

    Wow. they look like Oreo's with heads and tails, great capture.

  • Joseph Gosline

    Joseph Gosline

    commented over 1 year ago

    Wonderful Photo, great story.

  • Ashley Wirth-Petrik

    Ashley Wirth-Petrik

    commented over 1 year ago

    This is so incredible! Your caption is amazing as well. Thank you for sharing your story and this photo with us!

  • Sara Payne

    Sara Payne

    commented over 1 year ago

    Chip, thanks! I keep wondering how the little critters are doing out there in the big wide world!

  • Terry Crayne

    Terry Crayne

    commented over 1 year ago

    This is cool. Every year I photo them laying eggs and intend on monitoring the site come hatching time, but never find the time to get back. Would love to have the opportunity like you. I'm jealous.

  • Dave Anderson

    Dave Anderson

    commented over 1 year ago

    Excellent capture Sara, brings back memories for me.

  • Jay Brown

    Jay Brown

    commented over 1 year ago

    Amazing how cute they are - when they’re small! Wonderful shot Sara!

  • Eileen Sabes

    Eileen Sabes

    commented over 1 year ago

    Wow! Great shot and thanks for the info!

  • Christine Petersen

    Christine Petersen

    commented over 1 year ago

    Love this reminder that everything starts small!

  • Sara Payne

    Sara Payne

    commented over 1 year ago

    Thanks, everyone, for your comments. I've enjoyed reading how many of you have childhood memories of finding baby turtles. I don't. I grew up in Los Angeles, and about once every 2 years, a giant tortoise that roamed our neighborhood would show up in our yard. It was cause for great excitement amongst the kids, but I think the parents worried what he would do to the garden plants. Unlike snapping turtles, he was extremely docile, and even friendly. He was also older than most of our grandparents, and for city kids who didn't even have squirrels to enjoy, he was truly exotic!

  • Brian Bowman

    Brian Bowman

    commented over 1 year ago

    Great shot! I remember catching these as a kid.

  • Kim C. Taylor

    Kim C. Taylor

    commented over 1 year ago

    Wow.

  • CLAUDINE GROVE

    CLAUDINE GROVE

    commented over 1 year ago

    Amazing little creatures. Lucky to have your help and protection.

  • Linda McKusick

    Linda McKusick

    commented over 1 year ago

    Great shot! So many of them.

  • Dawn LaPointe

    Dawn LaPointe

    commented over 1 year ago

    Awesome! I've never seen baby turtles. What a great experience and nice shot.

  • Terry McNeill

    Terry McNeill

    commented over 1 year ago

    Hands down, a cool pic!

  • Ron Traeger

    Ron Traeger

    commented over 1 year ago

    Congrats Sara on reaching 250 votes!

  • Sara Payne

    Sara Payne

    commented over 1 year ago

    Thanks everyone for your kind comments and your votes! They are cool little critters for sure!

  • Paul Olson

    Paul Olson

    commented over 1 year ago

    As I went to click on "dig it" I thought about the pun in that.

  • Sara Payne

    Sara Payne

    commented over 1 year ago

    Paul-- : ) Amazing how those little babies can dig!

  • Nancy Jahnel

    Nancy Jahnel

    commented over 1 year ago

    Great photo. I found an adult in my back yard last summer Inside the fence! I still don't know how it got inside. Some how the dog didn't get bitten. I was able to get him/her outside the fence and I never saw it again. Would have been so cool to see little ones. The adults are scary though and heavy. Your cat pictures are great too.

  • Craig Nettleship

    Craig Nettleship

    commented over 1 year ago

    Great message and great capture!

  • michelle aragon

    michelle aragon

    commented over 1 year ago

    what an amazing story to go along with the picture! Some people wouldn't of took the extra steps to make sure they would be safe! That is amazing!

  • Stefanie Mayer

    Stefanie Mayer

    commented over 1 year ago

    theyre little dinosaurs

  • Saralicia Mustain

    Saralicia Mustain

    commented over 1 year ago

    This is so precious! Congrats for saving the turtles!

  • Donna Wood

    Donna Wood

    commented over 1 year ago

    I just love this. WOW!! You and your family sounds so much like ours. We don't get the snappers but we do get the painted turtles. We watch as the mom comes up into our yard to lay the eggs and then place a stick near the site to remember where they are. We don't have racoons around here due to the woods next to us being torn down for houses. But the memories my girls and I share from summers past are priceless.

  • Vicki Lantto

    Vicki Lantto

    commented over 1 year ago

    Wow! That is so cool!

  • Sara Payne

    Sara Payne

    commented over 1 year ago

    What a week! Monday I took (and passed!) a lengthy and difficult professional exam, yesterday I got my first (and last—only “allowed” one per year) cold of the year, today is the wrap-up of Capture Minnesota, tomorrow the Groundhog predicts our short-term future, and Friday, the City of Lakes Loppet begins and continues over the weekend. Phew! No wonder I am so behind in sharing my heartfelt thanks to all of you on Capture Minnesota. Thank you for sharing what you see through the lens. Thank you for providing all the complimentary, encouraging, informative and humorous comments and your votes and loves. Thank you for creating such a special community. Thank you, TPT, for conceiving this whole project! It has been an honor being part of it. All the best to each and every one of you!

  • John Kay

    John Kay

    commented about 1 year ago

    I love your title for this photo!

  • Shannon Eck

    Shannon Eck

    commented about 1 year ago

    wonderful shot

  • Sarah Johnson

    Sarah Johnson

    commented about 1 year ago

    You have great luck with the wildlife!

  • Terry McNeill

    Terry McNeill

    commented about 1 year ago

    Thanks for the support Sara and a big congrats for being selected to being published. I have a sneaky suspicion that this one I'll see again in print. Nice job!

  • Dawn LaPointe

    Dawn LaPointe

    commented about 1 year ago

    Sara, I'm so happy to see you'll be in the book! You have so many great pictures, but this is one of my many faves of yours. (and I've never seen little turtle hatchlings in person...yet.) You have a big heart for animals and people and a good eye to capture it all! Congrats!

  • Sara Payne

    Sara Payne

    commented about 1 year ago

    John, Shannon, Sarah, Terry and Dawn, thank you so much for your comments. I hope we have a new "crop" this summer. Hope to see you at the release party. Don't forget to order your free tickets at the CM website.

  • Ron Traeger

    Ron Traeger

    commented about 1 year ago

    Congratulations Sara on earning your place in the book!

  • Sara Payne

    Sara Payne

    commented about 1 year ago

    Thank you, Ron. I was quite surprised. I suspect these little turtles might be a contender. I don't have technical expertise, but I do like to ferret out the secrets of mother nature!

  • Aaron Groen

    Aaron Groen

    commented 10 months ago

    Very cool story!

  • Sarah Bertram

    Sarah Bertram

    commented 8 months ago

    Cool!

  • Mark Andersen

    Mark Andersen

    commented 4 months ago

    How exciting that would be. Great shot Sara !

  • Anzhela Sira

    Anzhela Sira

    commented about 2 months ago

    Adorable!

  • Douglas Brown

    Douglas Brown

    commented 14 days ago

    Great image and I really like the story behind it as well. Good job on all accounts.

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