This was a spectacular day for wildlife here at the Crystal River Inn. First guests sitting on the screened in porch came ever so gently to tell us to come and see a marvelous thing – a snapping turtle was laying her eggs in our garden! What an amazing thing to see. From our book on Wisconsin Reptiles we learned they can lay up to 30 eggs (just once a year) and in 60-130 days they hatch and make their way to the water. We’ll cover the spot with chicken wire and keep a watchful eye on them.

Mama Snapping Turtle planting her eggs in our garden by the wild onions!