The look of defeat (and de feet) as a common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) accepts the fact that it has been picked up. 🐢

#herping2025 #iliketurtles #snappingturtle #snappinturlul #turtle #reptiles #notanalligatorsnapper

Well, that's one way to start your workday.

Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) missing a good chunk of its tail. 🐢

#herping2025 #unintentionalherping #liketurtles #commonsnappingturtle

Lifer plain-belly water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster) basking in a swamp. Water snakes are severely misunderstood animals. Their defensive behaviors are often misinterpreted as aggressive. Such behaviors can be avoided by simply not picking snakes up. 🐍

#herping2025 #herping #snake