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There are at least three snapping turtles breeding in the reservation this year.  During the week of 21 June 2002, I observed a nest with eggs, a female looking for a place to dig a nest and a turtle in the act of laying eggs.

The nest I saw was on the south side of the bike path, adjacent to the east end of the new R&D building about 1000 feet from the “T” station.  The nest had been opened – assumedly by some predator bent on a snack of turtle eggs - and several eggs were broken.  There were still at least a dozen translucent pink eggs, the size of ping-pong balls (about 35 mm diameter) still in the nest.  I covered the nest back up and have been observing it over the last almost two months.  I spoke with a gentleman who was walking along the path and he told me he had seen the female laying the eggs, probably on 18 or 19 June. 

On June 21, I walked from the “T” station up to the parking lot at Hill Estates, my goal being to walk to where Little River exits the pond.  I observed an extremely gravid female snapping turtle attempting to dig a nest in the loose soil next to the curbstone.  She had been at it a while when I saw her, and had not made a great deal of progress.  She did not seem to be disturbed by the car and pedestrian traffic, nor by my filming her maternal progress, or lack of it. I did not see her complete her nest nor lay eggs, but from her protruding pregnancy she was more than ready.

A bit to the west of the parking lot near where Wellington Brook enters Little River, I saw a turtle in the act of laying eggs. She had excavated herself a hole on the top of a pile of rubble (sand, gravel and masonry debris) and appeared to be depositing eggs when I came upon her.  I watched – and filmed her – for about fifteen minutes and then left her to complete her deposition.  I have observed the covered nest several times since and it does not appear to have been disturbed. 

The three sites are indicated on the included map.  I was not able to get photos of the nest due to not having a camera along, but I got some good video of the two turtles at Hill Estates. 

Images © 2002, Rex Passion
Rex Passion (Richard Gantt)
95 Jackson St.
Cambridge, MA. 02140

1) This nest was on the bike path, on the left as you head away from the T station, about 100 yards past the barrier of granite blocks. It was raided by a predator and all of the eggs eaten.

2) This nest was also on the bike path, on the left as you head away from the T station, where the train tracks first come into view, about 200 yards from the end of the path. It was also raided and all of the eggs eaten. Note: I saw this turtle just after it had completed the nest and it had a gash on top of its head and was bleeding from one nostril. I didn't see how it happened but believe it had to have been either a person or a dog.

3) This nest is at the back of the Hill Estates parking lot, adjacent to, and just over the hill from, the bike path. The nest is in the hill itself, about half way up. This is probably the same location and the same turtle mentioned in the post on breeding snappers in 2002. Hatchlings have been emerging from the nest in recent weeks.

4) This nest is just off the side of Acorn Park Road, on the right as you head toward Route 2, approximately 15 yards before the short length of guard rail. Hatchlings have been emerging from the nest in recent weeks. I have counted approximately six run over by cars on the road.

5) This nest is also just off the side of Acorn Park Road, also on the right as you head toward Route 2, in front of the guard rail. After the nest was completed, landscapers worked on the area and covered it with several inches of wood chips. I don't believe any hatchlings have emerged.

6) This nest is also just off the side of Acorn Park Road, on the left as you head toward Route 2, in front of the guard rail on the left side of the street. It is almost directly across the street from nest #5. It was also covered with wood chips and no hatchlings seem to have emerged.

7) This nest was in the parking lot behind the Arthur Little building, in the first island closest to the river, in the section closest to the building. This nest was raided by a predator.