Do Snapping Turtles Live in the Triangle?

Dear Miss Fifi:

My neighbor rescued a turtle this morning on the way back from the tennis courts, but when she was trying to set it loose in the open field behind her house it bit her. Do wwe have snapping turtles in this part of the state?

- Louise

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Dear Louise:

You know, Miss Fifi needed to check into that for you, Louise. But it turns out Davidson College has an interesting study, Turtles of North Carolina.

Snapping turtles are found throughout North Carolina and actually do live in the Piedmont region. In the spring and summer they move from pond to pond looking for places to nest, and can, in fact, inflict painful bites.