Is it better to hold a Snapping Turtle by the front and back of the shell, or by the sides?
by 
Aero the lifeguard
ANSWERS: 16
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Its best that you don't pick the SOB up! You don't wan't to screw around with a snapping turtle.
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Just let it bite you and you can keep a fine hold on it.
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by the tail is recommended. the snapper has a very long neck that could just reach around and get a finger or your thumb. sometimes they are so big that a large wash tub is used to hold them.
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How about not at all? I don't think they like that.
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Hold it by the back of the neck (one hand) and the shell (the other hand) - that is the safest place to keep control of it. Advice from a friend near me that grew up in a protected wetland. I do agree with the others... just keep away from it.
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You grab near the front we might be callin' you ''Lefty'' from now on yo...
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If you want to keep your fingers, hold it by the sides. Or if you want it to be near you, just stick a finger in front of its mouth and you will know where it is for quite awhile.
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Just wear a thimble.
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A snapping turtle has a neck long enough to reach your fingers if you grab the shell wrong. Most people I know that actually handle them, carry a solid broomstick. Hold it in front of them, and they will bite it. Pull on it, and they will hold on. then use electrical tape on the mouth to hold it shut. After that, they are safe to handle.
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DO NOT pick up a snapper by the tail! It strains the vertebrae and cloacal area and can cause permanent damage. I have been working with snapping turtles for over 20 years. Also, DO NOT grab a snapper by the neck! That is perhaps even worse advice. Grabbing any animal by the neck and picking it up is just a bad idea, and most of the time the snapper will pull its head in if you try to touch its neck. If it is a large snapper the best way pick it up is to grab it on the side of the carapce (top shell) near the back leg and place your other palm on the plastron (bottom shell) to support the turtle. A medium sized snapper can be picked up the same way, but you can also hold the turtle across your forearm with the plastron facing up. The turtle usually calms down in this position. Remember, a wild snapper will strike repeatedly. They are not the easiest turtle to work with.
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If you are a beginner in handling such turtle, it is best you throw a gunny sack on the turtle and then you grab it by the sides.
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Hold it over the lake or pond you found it in and drop it.
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i pretty sure they can turn teir heads around to bite u so by the sides would be best, they only chomp off your fingers if there alligator snapping wich are anly found in afica, the other ones bite hard (as i found out with a rather large scar 2 prove it)but i dont think its enough to remove your finger but i could be wrong ;)
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Depends it on the size, small ones from the back, big ones from the side. And once you pick it up put it back int he wild.
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If you MUST hold it, pick it up by the sides carefully and hold on tight!
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Given as how it snaps in the front and pees in the back, I would hold it very carefully by the sides.
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