Females lay up to 30 eggs and covers the nest with soil when finished. The females then returns to her home. Nearly all the nests are destroyed by predators. The eggs hatch in about 50 to 60 days. Temperature during incubation determines the sex of the hatchling turtles.
Lower temperatures produce mainly males and higher temperatures produce mainly females.
The young turtles are very vulnerable during their first few years of life. Most do not become very aggressive until they are over four inches carapace length. Snapping turtles become active in April, and overwinter starting in October. Snapping turtles can be seen hibernating beneath the ice on some clear lakes. The turtles may move a little during this period, but they generally do not eat.