Image of Common Snapping Turtle

Description:

Adult snapping turtle captured in a riverside pond at the Wind River Ranch on the Mora River, Mora County, New Mexico. This ranch is now part of the Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge. The turtle is being held by Charles W. Painter, herpetologist with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, who was helping conduct a teacher education workshop at the ranch. Charlie passed away today (12 May 2015). Those of us who knew him are thinking about the many ways he touched our lives while working to conserve the herpetofauna of New Mexico.