It may be hard for this snapping turtle to climb the ladder of success, when he had such difficulties merely getting himself onto a floating log. It would be understatement to note that Eastern Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) are not exactly graceful when they pull themselves out of the water (and even in the water, they seem a bit clumsy).
I read somewhere on-line that snapping turtles—unlike most other turtles—generally do not bask in the sun out of the water. Therefore, I was a little surprised when this turtle swam up to the log and began his attempt to climb onto it. It was like watching a movie in slow motion as he struggled and strained to pull his body up out of the water.
The first image shows him taking a break after making it halfway to his goal. I love the details of his visible front leg and all of his wrinkles. In the second shot, he has achieved his objective and seems to be settling in for an afternoon nap in the sun.
I noted that the log is no longer floating out of the water as it was at the start.—apparently success weighs heavy on the victor.
Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
He looks like he just came out of his winter mud bed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a snapping turtle on a log, now that you mention it.
From what I read, most of the time they bask on the surface of the water and don’t often come out of the water to do so.
Nice pictures, good title! Yups don’t look anymore like they did in the ’80s! LOL
and progress is a lot slower….I wonder if this one qualities as a professional/
Aww bless him, he looks like he just woke up from a nice sleep haha
I think that was preparation for snoozing some more. He may have been dozing in the water already.
A striking couple of photos. This turtle needs a bath, though.
This was one of the cleaner ones! I am surprised to see how much mud and algae they carry around on the top of their shells much of the time.
Great shots. I like you how captured the struggle so well in the first photo. The wrinkles are a bonus.
Thanks. Snapping turtles are about the only form of “big game” that I have observed recently. I guess that I need to get out a bit more.