Hibernacula Use and Hibernation Phenology in the Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) in Canaan Valley, West Virginia

We captured 32 Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) in a Canaan Valley, West Virginia lake and equipped them with radio-transmitters during 1988 through 2007 to describe their hibernation behavior and examine the relative importance of temporal and environmental effects on hibernation. We monitored entry date, exit date, and location of hibernacula. The mean date of entry into hibernation was 9 October, and the mean date of exit from hibernation was 13 April, with a mean duration of 185 days. Turtles moved a mean distance of 117 m to hibernacula and were located most often along small streams bordered by speckled alder (Alnus rugosa). Hibernation entry date was influenced by lake temperature and hibernation exit date was influenced by water temperature at hibernacula sites. We suggest that small streams are important to Common Snapping Turtles as hibernacula because they provide protection from predators and remain above freezing temperatures.