- Admitted
- September 13, 2025
- Rescue Location
- Waynesboro
- Cause of Admission/Condition
- Hatched in captivity
- Status
- Former Patient
Last Updated Jump to patient updates
In mid-September, the Wildlife Center welcomed a special group of patients—13 hatchling Snapping Turtles that emerged from eggs laid at the Center.
The hatchlings' story began in late spring, when adult Snapping Turtle #25-1859 was admitted on May 30 after being hit by a car in Albemarle County. Radiographs taken during her exam revealed not only a serious jaw fracture, but also that she was gravid, carrying more than a dozen eggs.
During her two months in care, Snapping Turtle #25-1859 laid her eggs in a soil mixture inside her enclosure. Sadly, despite the veterinary team’s best efforts, her jaw injury did not respond to treatment, and her condition continued to decline. The veterinary team ultimately made the difficult but compassionate decision to euthanize her.
However, Snapping Turtle #25-1859's story didn’t end there. The rehabilitation team carefully incubated her clutch of eggs, monitoring them closely throughout the summer. On September 13, during routine morning checks, staff spotted what they had been hoping for: the first tiny turtle had broken free of its shell. Over the next week, the Center welcomed 13 healthy hatchlings.
“They’re all doing really well,” said Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor Alex Olvera. “It’s incredible to see how quickly their instincts develop. They’re already swimming and showing typical Snapping Turtle behaviors. One hatchling even started snapping at a leaf we put near him, then chased a piece of moss around his enclosure.”
In their first week at the Center, the hatchlings remain tucked inside damp paper towels, mimicking the protective nest chamber they would rely on in the wild. “Once they hatched, we kept them hydrated and wrapped until their umbilici were fully absorbed,” Alex explained. “That’s when they start to swim. It mirrors what would happen in nature, where they stay in the nest until they’re ready.”
Because these hatchlings emerged late in the season, the Center will keep them through the winter before releasing them to the wild. “We want to give them the best chance possible,” Alex noted. “Reptiles can’t be released past October 1 due to the cold weather, and only about half of these turtles were ready by then. With their umbilicus still attached, they’d be vulnerable in the wild, so overwintering is the safest option.”
This spring, once the weather is warm enough, the rehabilitation team will release these hatchlings into a safe, suitable habitat near their mother's rescue location. Though their mother was not able to return home, her offspring will carry her legacy forward into Virginia’s wetlands and waterways.
Please note: if you encounter a nest of turtle eggs in the wild, it is always best to leave them undisturbed. The Wildlife Center only incubated this clutch because they were laid by a patient already in care.
Patient Updates
On May 9, after 238 days in care at the Center, all of the Snapping Turtle hatchlings were released back into the wild at Beaver Creek Park Reservoir in Albemarle County. Staff placed each hatchling along the shoreline and watched as they slowly entered the water and swam out of sight.
Alex Olvera, the Center’s Rehabilitation Supervisor, said that Snapping Turtles “Pink” and “Blue” were the first to enter the water, followed closely by the rest of the group. Although their mother did not survive her injuries to make the journey home herself, her offspring will carry her legacy forward into Virginia’s wetlands and waterways.
Now five months old, the Center’s Snapping Turtle hatchlings have continued to grow and steadily gain weight. Rehabilitation staff have begun separating some of the hatchlings to reduce competition during feeding, which, according to Rehabilitation Supervisor Alex Olvera, “is to be expected—in the wild, they would naturally disperse from each other.”
The turtles are now regularly hunting live prey, including fish and earthworms, as part of their feeding routine. Check out the videos below to watch the hatchlings actively pursue and capture prey in their aquatic enclosures.
“Overall, all the hatchlings are doing great, and we’re excited that they’re still on track for release this spring,” Alex said.
During the past month, the Snapping Turtle hatchlings have continued to do well. On January 24, the turtles were moved to two large enclosures in the Center’s Isolation Room, providing more space for swimming and exploration as they continue to grow. At their most recent weekly evaluation, the hatchlings weighed an average of 54 grams—an increase from 45 grams in mid-January.
The turtles have also reached an important milestone in their rehabilitation: hunting live prey. At the beginning of each week, the rehabilitation team is placing small fish in the enclosures to encourage the turtles’ natural hunting instincts. “Most of the hatchlings reacted immediately and chased the fish,” said Alex Olvera, the Center's Rehabilitation Supervisor. “The first hatchling to successfully catch a fish waited very still and ambushed it, which is what they will all start to learn.”
Check out this video the turtles' introduction to live fish!
The Snapping Turtle hatchlings have continued to do well in their ICU enclosure. Although growth can vary from turtle to turtle at this early stage, the group's overall development remains on track. “They’re all growing—some of them a little faster than expected—but so far they’re all looking good,” said Alex Olvera, the Center's Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor. Recent weigh-ins show the hatchlings now average about 35 grams, with the largest weighing in at 42 grams.
Beyond the numbers, staff are also seeing important behavioral milestones. Some of the hatchlings have begun basking under their lights more frequently, a natural behavior that indicates comfort in their surroundings. “They only do that as babies when they feel really safe, so we were happy to see that," noted Alex.
For now, the hatchlings will remain in the ICU, receiving weekly evaluations and daily care from the rehabilitation team. As they continue to grow, staff will transition them to a larger enclosure with more space for the hatchlings to swim and perform natural behaviors.