Snapper
Quabbin Reservoir, Belchertown
Photograph and text by Anne E. Ely, South Hadley
This was the first time I’d ever seen a snapping turtle walking so high up on its hind legs. I came across this big one while driving through Quabbin Reservoir in Belchertown in early May.
It was crossing the road in front of me. I flashed my brake lights to warn the car behind me, and then pulled over behind it.
I got out, as did the couple in the car behind and with a large stick we gently tapped at the turtle’s back end and encouraged it to continue on out of the road, where I hope it stayed. This turtle seemed to have quite a long tail, so I’m guessing it was a male.
During the proceedings I managed to capture this image with a medium length telephoto lens on my hand held DSLR camera.
Anne E. Ely is affiliated with the Robert Floyd Photo Gallery, 2 East St., Southampton. Other images are on view there Tuesdays and Sundays, 1 to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. and by appointment.