Re: I was wondering how you catch a snapping turtle.

Josh,

I'm afraid I don't have a foolproof solution for you, but here are some 
options:  if you want to relocate the snapping turtle yourself, first rule 
is to be really careful.  They tend to be aggressive, and you don't want to 
get snapped.  I spoke with the Curator of Herpetology at the Toledo Zoo for 
pointers, and he said you have to be sure to grab the turtle by the back 
legs, or if it's not too big, you can grab it by the tail.  Be sure to keep 
away from its head, since they're pretty wily and can rear back and snap.  

The trick is getting the turtle to where you'd rather it live.  I hope 
you're planning to move it to another suitable spot where it won't bother 
your duck population.  

Since I've never tried to move a snapper myself, I would suggest you go 
with option two:  call a local nature center if you have one nearby.  They 
might be able to use the turtle in education programs, or might suggest 
another home for it.  They might also have more experience relocating 
beasties, and might be able to come out to help you.  You might try the 
Nature Conservancy or look for a wildlife refuge/state/local parks office 
for suggestions.  The Nature Conservancy has a great web site with 
information on preserves across the country (http://www.tnc.org).

The main thing is to make sure both you and the turtle get through this 
process without injury.  

Good luck, and be safe.

Regards,

Ruth