Driving around the roads of sherbourne county last night around 9-10pm, no less than 587 frogs meet their demise on my truck tires.
Why were they there? Where were they going if just traveling through?
It was rainy here and there. Steam was coming off the road here and there. I have my notions but would like the amphibious experts opinion for myself to gain more knowledge of these creatures.
RIP, Kermit.
One for me…
And one for my homies…
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Dang near hit a big snapping turtle in Eagan this morning. Its that time of year!!!
Dang near hit a big snapping turtle in Eagan this morning. Its that time of year!!!
yesterday i travelrd to sioux falls, seen 3 dead snappers on the shoulder of the road………….i dont get why people have to hit them. 
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>DaveB wrote:</div>
Dang near hit a big snapping turtle in Eagan this morning. Its that time of year!!!yesterday i travelrd to sioux falls, seen 3 dead snappers on the shoulder of the road………….i dont get why people have to hit them.
Could it be because they cant get into Canada?
Stopped this morning to help a turtle across hwy 82 going to Lansing IA. Stopped for a second one but it was already partially crushed. Still alive but guts hanging out. Not sure how people hit them. Not paying attention? Really drunk? Maybe just bad drivers. A frog covered highway I can understand but turtles are probably the easiest critter to avoid.
Stopped this morning to help a turtle across hwy 82 going to Lansing IA. Stopped for a second one but it was already partially crushed. Still alive but guts hanging out. Not sure how people hit them. Not paying attention? Really drunk? Maybe just bad drivers. A frog covered highway I can understand but turtles are probably the easiest critter to avoid.
I believe they are hit on purpose. That’s why I usually stop too and help them.
Ma and I were on tour in the Wabasha area last Saturday and came home thru Sand Prairies south of Kellogg. We helped a Blandings Turtle get off the road. Neat turtles, very docile. We came across a couple of large snappers that met the their demise on Highway 61. I can’t imagine what hitting one of those critters would be like at highway speeds. Gotta be a lot like a reverse pothole.
We ended up returning home via Weaver to Elba and saw several large groups of Trumpeter Swans that have nested in the pools near Beaver this year. There must have been 30 of the large birds in one group. Sort of neat to have these guys in the back yard so to speak.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>DaveB wrote:</div>
Dang near hit a big snapping turtle in Eagan this morning. Its that time of year!!!yesterday i travelrd to sioux falls, seen 3 dead snappers on the shoulder of the road………….i dont get why people have to hit them.
Could it be because they cant get into Canada?
maybe!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
I watched a massive snapper get hit on 190th in Farmington a couple weeks back. The car was most likely totaled, its front end was off the ground and the front bumper cover was destroyed. I don’t know if she was on her phone or spilled her coffee, but there was no car in front of her blocking the view and she absolutely smoked it…
I see snappers quite a bit around 195th and Embers with the preserve ponds on both sides of the road. You get some pretty odd looks when you stop and hop out to help them across the road.
I saw a guy hit a Mallard on Embers (30 MPH) a couple weeks back. No excuse at all if you ask me. He was obviously not watching the road as the Mallard was slowly walking across the road. I told him what I thought of that move as we pulled in along side one another at Kwik Trip and he barked back that the duck shouldn’t walk across the road. Let’s just say my blood pressure was peaking.
I watched a massive snapper get hit on 190th in Farmington a couple weeks back. The car was most likely totaled, its front end was off the ground and the front bumper cover was destroyed. I don’t know if she was on her phone or spilled her coffee, but there was no car in front of her blocking the view and she absolutely smoked it…
That’s the result I like to hear!
I helped a snapper that had been hit at least once. It didn’t appear to be worse for wear.
Man it makes me mad when people kill the poor turtles. Ever since I was a kid my dad would stop and have me or us help the turtle cross the road. Now when I do it these days my son (6) thinks I’m a hero. Makes it even more worth while
I see snappers quite a bit around 195th and Embers with the preserve ponds on both sides of the road. You get some pretty odd looks when you stop and hop out to help them across the road.
Correction, it was 195th. Just east of Embers between the ponds. I saw a few small remnants this morning on the south side of the road.
Thought this was a cat related thread….oops carry on.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Merican Eagle wrote:</div>
I watched a massive snapper get hit on 190th in Farmington a couple weeks back. The car was most likely totaled, its front end was off the ground and the front bumper cover was destroyed. I don’t know if she was on her phone or spilled her coffee, but there was no car in front of her blocking the view and she absolutely smoked it…That’s the result I like to hear!
I helped a snapper that had been hit at least once. It didn’t appear to be worse for wear.
Some people must just zone out and drive down the road without paying attention to anything but the yellow line. I don’t understand how they can’t see some things or just don’t react to it. My son and I helped a big snapper a couple weeks ago over by Middle Creek Park in Farmington. They are on the move.
This should be common sense, but if you’re helping a turtle off a road make sure you move it to the side of the road that it was originally heading. Otherwise once you move the turtle it’ll spin right around and head back onto the road.
Its egg laying time and those turtle will travel quite a distance to lay them sometimes. This can involve crossing roads. Unfortunately there are some people who get in behind the drivers wheel without a clue and don’t much give a rip about anything except getting to wherever they’re going.
This Sucker ate my Sucker on Sunday and man was it heavy! 
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Helped 2 snappers in one stop a couple weeks back.
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Hamm sounds like you witnessed the spring frog migration. I’ve seen the fall migration. Strange critters those frogs.
Around my hood, when folks stop for snappers in the road, often times it’s to toss them in the bed of the truck to bring home for supper.
I would to in a heartbeat, once it’s legal, which I believe is July 1.
Around my hood, when folks stop for snappers in the road, often times it’s to toss them in the bed of the truck to bring home for supper.
My brother tosses one into the trunk of his car once. He made a couple of stops and came out of the store to find that it ate through his seat.
My brother tosses one into the trunk of his car once. He made a couple of stops and came out of the store to find that it ate through his seat.
HAte to say it but pretty sure when the turtles are hit it’s on purpose way more than on accident. Very annoying. When helping em across the road do you grab towards the back of the shell or on the middle of each side?
When helping em across the road do you grab towards the back of the shell or on the middle of each side?
That would depend on the species of turtle. A person needs to use some care handling a snapper and a soft shell for that matter. Its amazing the length of neck these critters have, but generally a “hand on each side on the rear 1/3 of the shell” type of hold will be safe. Watch out for the claws too if the animal starts peddling on ya.
About every other year we’ll get a big one that comes up from the creek behind us and tear up some of Ma’s flower garden while laying eggs. Kinda hard to tell which has the worst temper when that happens, lol.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>slipbob_nick wrote:</div>
When helping em across the road do you grab towards the back of the shell or on the middle of each side?That would depend on the species of turtle. A person needs to use some care handling a snapper and a soft shell for that matter. Its amazing the length of neck these critters have, but generally a “hand on each side on the rear 1/3 of the shell” type of hold will be safe. Watch out for the claws too if the animal starts peddling on ya.
About every other year we’ll get a big one that comes up from the creek behind us and tear up some of Ma’s flower garden while laying eggs. Kinda hard to tell which has the worst temper when that happens, lol.
i usually grab them by the tail and hold them out a good arms length away from my body. biggest trick is getting them mad enough to get a good bite on something to wack the head off when cleaning one.
HAte to say it but pretty sure when the turtles are hit it’s on purpose way more than on accident. Very annoying. When helping em across the road do you grab towards the back of the shell or on the middle of each side?
I was taught to grab a snapper in the rear, just above their back legs. You can pick up smaller ones that way or you can slowly drag the bigger ones. Never pick up any turtle by the tail, it could severely hurt them.
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