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Snapping Turtle

Chelydra serpentina

Reptile · family Chelydridae · order Testudines

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G4: apparently secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Snapping Turtle
Photo: Edward Knobel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G4 Apparently Secure[2]
Native in
42 states[3]
Longest recorded life
47 years[4]

The Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is a reptile in the family Chelydridae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G4 (Apparently Secure) worldwide and N5 (Secure) in the United States, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][6][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Snapping Turtle a global rank of G4 (Apparently Secure) and a US national rank of N5 (Secure)[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. International trade is controlled under CITES Appendix III[8]. Trends are unknown, but NatureServe says local declines are likely in some areas, while the turtle also adapts well to human-made water sites[9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G4 (Apparently Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
CITES (international trade)[8] Appendix III

Where Snapping Turtle lives

NatureServe lists the Snapping Turtle as native in 42 US states and territories, spread across the East, the Midwest, the South and parts of the Plains and the Southwest[3]. It is recorded as introduced, not native, in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington[10]. NatureServe also gives state ranks, and Montana has a lower state rank than most native states[11]. Observation records on GBIF are highest in New York, Texas, Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina, but that follows where people look and report[12].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S5MEWisconsin: native, state rank S4WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: introduced, state rank SNAWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: native, state rank S3MTNorth Dakota: native, state rank SNRNDMinnesota: native, state rank S4MNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S4NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: introduced, state rank SNAORNevada: introduced, state rank SNANVWyoming: native, state rank S4WYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S5SDIowa: native, state rank S5IAIndiana: native, state rank S5INOhio: native, state rank S5OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S5PANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5RICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: introduced, state rank SNAUTColorado: native, state rank S4CONebraska: native, state rank S5NEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S5DEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S5NMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S5NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S5DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S5LAMississippi: native, state rank S5MSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4TXFlorida: native, state rank S5FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (48 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
ArkansasS5Secure
ColoradoS4Apparently Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS5Secure
District of ColumbiaS5Secure
FloridaS5Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IdahoSNANot Applicable
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS5Secure
IowaS5Secure
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS5Secure
MaineS5Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaS4Apparently Secure
MississippiS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
MontanaS3Vulnerable
NebraskaS5Secure
NevadaSNANot Applicable
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5Secure
New MexicoS5Secure
New YorkS4Apparently Secure
North CarolinaS5Secure
North DakotaSNRNot Ranked
OhioS5Secure
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
OregonSNANot Applicable
PennsylvaniaS5Secure
Rhode IslandS5Secure
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS5Secure
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS4Apparently Secure
UtahSNANot Applicable
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
WashingtonSNANot Applicable
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS4Apparently Secure
WyomingS4Apparently Secure

Habitat

The Snapping Turtle uses nearly every kind of freshwater home, including streams, lakes, ponds, marshes and swamps[13]. It does best where the bottom is soft mud and there are plants, sunken brush or logs[13]. In some areas it also lives in brackish water, which is a mix of fresh and salty water[13]. NatureServe lists habitats such as forested wetland, bog or fen, creek, big river and shallow water[14]. It usually stays on the bottom, though it sometimes basks out of the water[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[14]

Size, diet and lifespan

NatureServe records adults as meat eaters, fish eaters, invertebrate eaters and plant eaters, so the diet is broad[15]. It feeds in the water and takes many kinds of animals and plants[16]. Typical length is 47 cm (19 in)[17]. The longest recorded lifespan is 47 years in the wild, which is a record and not a typical age[4]. Females reach sexual maturity at 3,285 days[18]. Clutch size averages 20 to 35 and sometimes goes past 100[19].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 47 cm (19 in)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 47 years (wild)
Female maturity[18] 3,285 days (about 9.0 years)
Food habits[15] Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore, Herbivore
Migration[20] local migrant

When to look for it

In the north, the Snapping Turtle slows down in late summer and is fairly inactive in winter, and it usually becomes active again in April[21]. It hibernates, often in mud or under sunken logs in shallow water[13][22]. NatureServe calls it a local migrant, meaning it moves short distances between summer and winter sites[20][23]. Most nesting takes place in June, with some in late May and early July[19]. GBIF records peak in April, May and June, which shows when people report it and not how many turtles there are[24].

January: 415 recordsJanFebruary: 868 recordsFebMarch: 3,429 recordsMarApril: 9,961 recordsAprMay: 16,146 recordsMayJune: 16,215 recordsJunJuly: 6,743 recordsJulAugust: 5,811 recordsAugSeptember: 6,766 recordsSepOctober: 2,517 recordsOctNovember: 783 recordsNovDecember: 424 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January415
February868
March3,429
April9,961
May16,146
June16,215
July6,743
August5,811
September6,766
October2,517
November783
December424

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Snapping Turtle as present in 64 park units[25]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 40 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Texas, Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina[12]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Snapping Turtle endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it N5 (Secure) in the United States and G4 (Apparently Secure) globally[2][6].
Where does the Snapping Turtle live?
It is native in 42 US states and territories and is recorded as introduced in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington[3][10]. It lives in freshwater habitats such as streams, lakes, ponds and marshes[13].
What does the Snapping Turtle eat?
It eats many kinds of animals and plants[16]. NatureServe records adults as meat eaters, fish eaters, invertebrate eaters and plant eaters[15].
How big is a Snapping Turtle?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 47 cm (19 in)[17].
How long does a Snapping Turtle live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 47 years in the wild, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Snapping Turtle is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Snapping Turtle: G4 (Apparently Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Snapping Turtle as native in 42 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 47 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is a reptile in the family Chelydridae, order Testudines. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix III (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for Snapping Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe lists Snapping Turtle as introduced (not native) in: Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe state ranks for Snapping Turtle (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Snapping Turtle: New York, Texas, Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Snapping Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Habitat types NatureServe records for Snapping Turtle: Temporary pool, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested wetland, Bog/fen, Riparian, Big river, Medium river, Creek, Moderate gradient, Low gradient, Pool, Deep water, Shallow water, River... NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Piscivore, Invertivore, Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Snapping Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 47 cm (19 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 3,285 days (about 9.0 years). AnAge
  19. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Snapping Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe migration category for Snapping Turtle: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  21. NatureServe notes on phenology for Snapping Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  22. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Circadian. NatureServe Explorer
  23. NatureServe notes on migration for Snapping Turtle. NatureServe Explorer
  24. GBIF observation records of Snapping Turtle in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  25. NPSpecies park lists recording Snapping Turtle as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: Edward Knobel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.