A natural history note describing a new prey item of Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) was published in the March 2017 issue of Herpetological Review. My co-author, Doug Backlund, photographed an adult male Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) being attacked by an adult Snapping Turtle on Farm Island, Hughes County, South Dakota. This observation adds to the list of waterfowl that have been reported as prey of Snapping Turtles and provides an account of predation events that are infrequently observed. Descriptions of the natural history of species such as this are critical and add to our understanding of species.

Davis DR, Backlund DC. 2017. Chelydra serpentina (Snapping Turtle). Diet. Herpetological Review 48:174–175. [PDF]