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Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
June 8, 2016
Last Week’s Mystery Answered
Last week, I wrote that I had found this strange-looking thing at the Warden's Watch, and asked readers to identify it.
When I came upon a rotting old Snapping Turtle in late May, I knew I had to bury it as soon as possible because it was beginning to stink to high heaven.
When I went to move it, several protective plates of the shell popped off. Once free of the shell, they curled a little. I never knew they could pop off so easily, even on a dead turtle.
A turtle-expert friend writes: "The thin coverings of the bony shell structure of the carapace are called scutes."
Marianne Herrmann wrote that the mystery object was: "part of a carapace."
Works for me, Congrats, Marianne!
5 comments
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Good to hear!
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Both turtles looked old. There is an overabundance of Snapping Turtles at the Celery Farm. Nothing to worry about that I know of. Near the dead turtle, two more were at the beginning of the reproduction cycle, and my yard has been a maternity ward for a dozen ST moms.
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Oh no…I was disappointed when walking there yesterday that I was unable to see one that I usually see. I hope it was not that one. Do you know if there is a reason that there have been two of them expiring in such close proximity? Or is it typical? Sorry you have to bury another one.
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Thanks. Just found another old one that just died. Burying soon…
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That was the first thing that popped into my mind. I wonder if the indigenous people of the area ever used those for anything if they dried it out in the sun or whatever. Jim Wright, it is great that you were so diligent and buried the Snapping Turtle. I thank you as one who visits the Celery Farm. It reminds me of the time not too long ago when there was a fish die off and the smell was terrible. I remember that I did not visit for awhile because of it and Jim O’Leary had pictures of a kind of fish crow eating the dead fish.
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5 comments
Marianne Herrmann
Good to hear!
Jim Wright
Both turtles looked old. There is an overabundance of Snapping Turtles at the Celery Farm. Nothing to worry about that I know of. Near the dead turtle, two more were at the beginning of the reproduction cycle, and my yard has been a maternity ward for a dozen ST moms.
Marianne Herrmann
Oh no…I was disappointed when walking there yesterday that I was unable to see one that I usually see. I hope it was not that one. Do you know if there is a reason that there have been two of them expiring in such close proximity? Or is it typical? Sorry you have to bury another one.
Jim Wright
Thanks. Just found another old one that just died. Burying soon…
Marianne Herrmann
That was the first thing that popped into my mind. I wonder if the indigenous people of the area ever used those for anything if they dried it out in the sun or whatever. Jim Wright, it is great that you were so diligent and buried the Snapping Turtle. I thank you as one who visits the Celery Farm. It reminds me of the time not too long ago when there was a fish die off and the smell was terrible. I remember that I did not visit for awhile because of it and Jim O’Leary had pictures of a kind of fish crow eating the dead fish.