The semiaquatic Snapping Turtle is characterized by a rigid upper shell and much smaller lower shell, a very long (at least half the length of the upper shell) sawtoothed tail, large size, eyes which can be seen from directly above the head, and relatively smooth skin on top of the head. Their neck and limbs are covered with fleshy tubercles. The feet are webbed and have formidable claws. The upper shell is tan or brown and frequently covered with mud and algae. The small lower shell is white or yellowish. Head, limbs, and tail are brown. In males, the cloacal opening is situated on the underside of the tail at a greater distance out from under the rear edge of the shell than in females. Females may reach a slightly larger size than males.
Adults are normally 203-360 mm (8-14 inches) in carapace length. The largest specimen from Kansas is a male (FHSM 13387) from Reno County collected by Jay E. Mattison and Allen Andresen on 16 October 2006 with a carapace length of 406 mm (16 inches). That turtle weighed 20.5 kilograms (45 lbs) and is also the heaviest specimen recorded from the state. The maximum carapace length throughout the range is 492.1 mm (193⁄8 inches). The maximum weight known (captive specimen) is 39 kg (86 lbs) (Powell et al., 2016).
Records mapped in Collins (1994) for Cloud, Butler, Geary, and Jackson counties are unknown and therefore not plotted. Records mapped in Collins (1994) for Sumner County (KU 20519) are too imprecise to plot (county only).
Eight specimens are known from Ottawa County (BYU 313, 1239, 1241-6) but only to the county.
All types of freshwater habitats, especially those with a soft mud bottom and abundant aquatic vegetation or submerged brush and logs. In brackish water in some areas. Mostly a bottom dweller. Hibernates singly or in groups in mud, under submerged logs or debris or an overhanging bank, or in muskrat tunnel in streams, lakes, ponds, or marshes.
Snapping Turtles are found in most aquatic situations but prefer water with a soft mud bottom, abundant pond-edge vegetation, and numerous sunken logs and branches. They appear to be most active at night when foraging for food. This creature spends much of its time buried in mud in water about the same depth as its long neck, allowing it to raise its head to the surface to breathe with minimal movement.
The Snapping Turtle is active from March to November, digging beneath the mud of ponds and lakes during the coldest months of winter. Fitch (1956) reported a specimen from Douglas County active at an air temperature of 49°F. They apparently can withstand air temperatures as high as 100°F but are unable to retain their body moisture as well as some other turtles, and this may explain why they do not often bask on logs (Collins, 1993).
Mating generally occurs anytime between April and November. These animals mate in the water when water temperatures are high enough. Courtship is variable, but usually a pair of turtles will face each other and wave their heads and necks sidewise in opposite directions from each other. They may gulp water and violently expel it through their nostrils, causing turbulence at the surface. Capron (1987) witnessed courtship activity by a pair of these turtles on 20 May in the Arkansas River at Oxford.
A male mounts a female by gripping her upper shell with his claws. He curls his tail beneath hers until their cloacal openings are in contact. During copulation, the female remains passive. The sperm may remain potent for several years.
The female lays 12-87 white, round eggs and probably produces two clutches per season. Gloyd (1928) recorded a female from Franklin County which deposited 15 eggs between 22 July and 3 August. The eggs were 3.8 mm (11⁄4 inches) in diameter and hatched on 7 October.
Burt and Hoyle (1935) reported that on 9 August 1933, Miss Virginia Stuber found 14 eggs of this species in the mud at the edge of Black Creek, near Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas. The mass of eggs was drying out, but there had been sufficient moisture present for their development. All of the shells were "pipped," but the young snappers were dead in six of the eggs. Those in the other eight hatched on the same day as they were found.
The eggs are laid on land in nests dug by the female. These nests are 101-178 mm (4-7 inches) deep in sandy or loamy soil and may be some distance from water. The eggs hatch in 55-125 days, depending on temperature and humidity, and the young Snapping Turtles have a shell length of 25.4-38.1 mm (1-1½ inches) at birth.
The Snapping Turtle is evidently omnivorous, eating whatever is available, including aquatic plants, insects, crayfishes, earthworms, clams, snails, fishes, frogs, toads, salamanders, snakes, other turtles, birds, small mammals, and carrion (Collins, 1993).
Predators on the eggs and young of the Snapping Turtle are numerous and include skunks, raccoons, crows, herons, hawks, bullfrogs, large fishes, and snakes (Collins, 1993). The main predators of adults are people.
The Snapping Turtle was first reported from Kansas by Long (1874) a monthly newsletter published by The Natural History Society at the University of Kansas. Cragin (1880) first reported the species in a widely disseminated scientific outlet based on specimens from Ottawa, Franklin County, by William Wheeler and Lawrence, Douglas County, from Francis H. Snow. The earliest available specimen (MCZ 4849) was collected by Louis Agassiz in may 1872. The day, month, and locality are unknown.
Common and widespread in eastern North America, the Snapping Turtle tolerates disturbed habitats and readily colonizes newly created habitats. The persist along the ephemeral streams of western Kansas, by making use of the holes where remains. The construction of ponds along and near the alluvial beds of these streams likely serves as a source populations to repopulate the streams that have dried.
The are no known significant threats to the Snapping Turtle in Kansas. Road mortality, particularly when females are moving to nesting sites, is likely the greatest component of adult mortality.
Snapping Turtles are usually observably abundant where found. The are easily trapped, and numbers can be surprisingly high in some habitats.
Snapping Turtles are a game species and may be taken year-round. The daily creel limit is eight turtles, single species or in combination (with Spiny Softshells and/or Smooth Softshells). The possession limit is three creel limits. A valid fishing license is required (unless exempt). The legal equipment for the take of Snapping Turtles are hand, hook and line, setline, hand dip net, seine, turtle trap, or gig.
Snapping Turtles have a nasty disposition, and large individuals can inflict a painful bite. In addition, when disturbed, this turtle emits a foul-smelling musk. Despite its annoying habits, it is excellent to eat and is probably the only turtle in Kansas of any commercial value due to its abundance and large size.
Gibbons (1987) reported a minimum known lifespan of 20- 24 years for this turtle. Based on a captive specimen, Snider and Bowler (1992) reported a maximum longevity for this species of 38 years, eight months, and 27 days.
The Common Snapping Turtle exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination. Those turtles incubated between 71-77° F predominantly produce males, while cooler or warmer temperatures produce females.
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Collins, Joseph T. 1994. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1993. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (97):15-19.
Rundquist, Eric M. 1994. Results of the sixth annual KHS herp counts held 1 April-31 May 1994. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (97):5-14.
Riedle, J. Daren. 1994. A survey of reptiles and amphibians at Montgomery County State Fishing Lake. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (98):11-13.
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Miller, Larry L. 1996. Third graders conduct amphibian and reptile field study. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (106):15.
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Taggart, Travis W. 1999. Cherokee County fall 1999 herp count. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (117):6.
Collins, Joseph T. 2000. New records of amphibians and reptiles in Kansas for 1999. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (119):7-9.
Taggart, Travis W. 2000. KHS spring field trip sets record for attendance. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (120):5-5.
Doren, Van, Mark D., and Curtis J. Schmidt. 2000. A herpetological survey of the Fort Larned National Historic Site, Pawnee County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (120):8-11.
Vitt, Christopher G. 2000. New records for aquatic turtles in Brown County, Kansas. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (121):17-18.
Rundquist, Eric M. 2000. Results of the eleventh and twelfth annual KHS herpetofaunal counts for 1999-2000, held 1 April-31 May. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (122):11-16.
Taggart, Travis W. 2001. The KHS 2001 spring field trip: A rainy rendezvous. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (124):12-14.
Rundquist, Eric M. 2001. Results of the thirteenth annual KHS herp counts for 2001, held 1 April-30 June. Kansas Herpetological Society Newsletter (125):13-16.
Kingsbury, Bruce and Joanna Gibson. 2002. Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwest. Publication of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Address not given. 152 pp.
Sheil, Christopher A. 2002. Skeletal development in turtles: Patterns of ossification through ontogeny in Apalone spinifera, Chelydra serpentina, Macrochelys temminckii, and Eretmochelys imbricata (Reptilia: Chelonii). Dissertation. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 466 pp.
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Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Homestead National Monument of
America, and Pipestone National Monument within the Heartland Inventory
and Monitoring Network. Interim Report. National Park Service, Washington, D.C.. 6 pp.
Riedle, J. Daren and A. Hynek. 2002. Amphibian and reptile inventory of the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant, Labette County, Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (2):18-20.
Ellis, Mark R. 2002. Fall 2002 KHS field trip to Washington County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (2):4-5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2002. Results of the spring 2002 KHS field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (3):6-7.
Fogell, Daniel D. 2003. A herpetofaunal inventory of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Homestead National Monument of America, and Pipestone National Monument within the Heartland Inventory
and Monitoring Network. National Park Service, Washington, D.C.. 59 pp.
Suleiman, G. 2003. Fort Riley herpetofaunal count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (5):11-12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2003. KHS conducts first systematic road survey. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):11-12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2003. Results of the 2003 KHS spring field trip to Wilson County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (6):2-5.
Miller, Larry L. 2003. Sumner County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):10.
Burr, Andrew. 2003. Coffey County herp count 2. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):7.
Collins, Joseph T. 2003. Douglas County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):8.
Suleiman, Gibran. 2003. Fort Riley herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (7):9.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2004. Natural history and status of the exploited Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) in western Kansas and a herpetofaunal inventory of the Smoky Valley Ranch, Logan County, Kansas. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 170 pp.
Delisle, Jennifer M. and William H. Busby. 2004. Biological inventory for vertebrates at Fort Larned National Historic Site of the southern plains network. Natural Heritage Inventory, Kansas Biological Survey, Lawrence. 61 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Kansas Herpetological Society 2004 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (9):2.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2004. Geographic distribution: Chelydra serpentina. Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (10):10.
Gubanyi, James E. 2004. Wilson County herp count. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):12.
Pisani, George R. 2004. Life history. Chelydra serpentina. Mating behavior. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (11):15.
Taggart, Travis W. 2004. Results of the KHS 2004 fall feld trip . Journal of Kansas Herpetology (12):15-16.
Gubanyi, Marla A. 2004. Geographic distribution. Chelydra serpentina. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (12):17.
Taggart, Travis W. and Curtis J. Schmidt. 2005. Geographic distribution: Chelydra serpentina. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (14):11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2005. Results of the KHS 2005 fall field trip [to Crawford County]. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (16):19-21.
Schmidt, Curtis J. 2005. Geographic distribution: Chelydra serpentina. Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (16):22.
Sheil, Christopher A. and Eli Greenbaum. 2005. Reconsideration of skeletal development of Chelydra serpentina
(Reptilia: Testudinata: Chelydridae): Evidence for intraspecific
variation. Journal of the Zoological Society of London 2005(265):235–267.
Taggart, Travis W. 2006. Addendum report to biological inventory of the sandsage prairie near Holcomb, Kansas. Sunflower Electric Cooperative, Hays, Kansas. 31 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2006. Distribution and status of Kansas herpetofauna in need of information. State Wildlife Grant T7. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. vii + 106 pp.
Wilgers, Dustin J., Eva A. Horne, Brett K. Sandercock, and Allan W. Volkmann. 2006. Effects of rangeland management on community dynamics of the herpetofauna of the tallgrass prairie. 62:378-388.
Taggart, Travis W., Joseph T. Collins, and Curtis J. Schmidt. 2007. Estimates of amphibian, reptile, and turtle mortality if Phostoxin is applied to 10,000 acres of prairie dog burrows in Logan County, Kansas. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pratt. 5 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2007. A biological inventory of the Sunflower Electric Site near Holcomb, Kansas. Journal of Kansas Herpetology 23:11-16.
Ernst, Carl H. 2008. Systematics, taxonomy, and geographic distribution of the snapping turtles, family Chelydridae. Pages 1-13 in Biology of the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.
Hutchison, J. Howard. 2008. History of fossil Chelydridae. Pages 14-30 in Biology of the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra Serpentina). 225 pp. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.
Moll, D. and John B. Iverson. 2008. Geographic variation in life-history traits. Pages 181-192 in Biology of the Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.
Murrow, Daniel G. 2009. KHS 2009 spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (29):42769.
Collins, Joseph T., Suzanne L. Collins, and Travis W. Taggart. 2010. Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles of Kansas. Eagle Mountain Publishing., Provo, Utah. 400 pp.
Murrow, Daniel G. 2010. Kansas Herpetological Society spring field trip. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (33):2-3.
Collins, Joseph T., Suzanne L. Collins, and Travis W. Taggart. 2011. Amphibians, Reptiles, and Turtles of the Cimarron National Grassland, Kansas. Second (Revised) Edition. U. S. Forest Service.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 spring field trip to be held in Chautauqua County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (37):5-7.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the KHS Spring Field Trip to Chautauqua County. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (38):2-4.
Taggart, Travis W. 2011. Results of the Kansas Herpetological Society 2011 Summer Field Trip to Scott State Park. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):2.
Houck, Mike. 2011. Fort Riley Herpetofaunal Survey for 2011. Journal of Kansas Herpetology (39):9.
House, William J., Ian M. Nall, and R. Brent Thomas. 2011. Selected aspects of semi-aquatic turtle assemblages in east-central
Kansas ponds. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 114(3-4):239-244.
Rohweder, Megan R. 2012. Spatial conservation prioritization of Kansas for terrestrial vertebrates. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 151 pp.
Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 2012. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United States and Canada: Second Edition, Revised and Updated. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 152 pp.
Kauffman, Greg Lee. 2013. Stable isotope analysis of a middle woodland population from north central Kansas. Thesis. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 110 pp.
Bass, Neil. 2013. The Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project: For the river, for you, and for herps. Collinsorum 2(1/2):10-11.
Miller, Larry L. 2013. Wellington Lake Herpetological Survey. Collinsorum 2(1/2):12.
Mardis, Dexter. 2013. Quivira National Wildlife Refuge herpetological outing. Collinsorum 2(1/2):13.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Spring Field Trip to Bourbon County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Summer Field Trip to Meade County State Park. Collinsorum 2(3/4):3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2012 Fall Field Trip to Atchison County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):4.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Spring Field Trip to Schermerhorn Park, Cherokee County. Collinsorum 2(3/4):4.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Summer Field Trip to Coldwater Lake, Comanche County. Collinsorum 2(3/4):5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2013. KHS 2013 Fall Field Trip to Butler County State Lake. Collinsorum 2(3/4):6.
Mardis, Dexter and Kevin Scott. 2013. 2013 Kansas Herpetofaunal Counts. Collinsorum 2(3/4):7.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS Spring Field Trip to Barber County. Collinsorum 3(2-4):11.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Results of the 2014 KHS Fall Field Trip to Woodson County. Collinsorum 3(2-4):12.
Taggart, Travis W. 2014. Recent scientific and standard English name changes effecting the Kansas herpetofauna. Collinsorum 3(2-4):9-10.
Seim, Jeffery. 2015. Population Structure and Habitat Association of Aquatic Testudines in Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 66 pp.
Bass, Neil. 2015. Herpetological (Frog and Turtle) Inventories along the Missouri River in Kansas. Collinsorum 4(1):5-9.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Spring Field Trip to the Greenhorn Limestone of Russell County. Collinsorum 4(3):2.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Summer Field Trip In The Harvey County Sandhills. Collinsorum 4(3):3.
Taggart, Travis W. 2015. Fall Field Trip Held In Washington County. Collinsorum 4(3):4.
Pittman, Galen L., Henry S. Fitch, and W. Dean Kettle. 2016. Vertebrate animals on the Fitch Natural History Reservation (1948-2002). Kansas Biological Survey Report Number 188, Lawrence. 48 pp.
Powell, Robert, Roger Conant, and Joseph T. Collins. 2016. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston. 494 pp.
Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Results of the KHS Summer field trip to Caney River, Chautauqua County, Kansas. Collinsorum 5(2-3):4-5.
Taggart, Travis W. 2016. Results of the KHS ‘Fall’ field trip to Barber County. Collinsorum 5(2-3):6-7.
Taggart, Travis W. and J. Daren Riedle. 2017. A Pocket Guide to
Kansas Amphibians,
Turtles and Lizards. Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, Kansas. 69 pp.
Crother, Brian I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Eighth edition. Herpetological Circulars (43):1-102.
Mardis, Dexter R. 2017. Results from three Herpetofaunal tallies at Wichita State University’s Youngmeyer Ranch in Northwestern
Elk County. Collinsorum 6(1):8-10.
Taggart, Travis W. 2017. Results of the 2017 KHS Spring Field Trip to Elk County, Kansas. Collinsorum 6(2-3):6-8.
Houck, Mike. 2018. Herp Count: Fort Riley Military Installation. Collinsorum 7(1):17.
Powell, Robert, Joseph T Collins, and Errol D Hooper Jr. 2019. Key to the Herpetofauna of the Continental United States and Canada. Third Edition. Univ Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 192 pp.
Hollender, Ethan C. 2019. Freshwater turtle community composition in mined land strip pit lakes and the effects of learned trap avoidance on capture rates of Sternotherus odoratus and Trachemys scripta. Thesis. Missouri State University, Springfield. 61 pp.
Mahr, Michael S. 2020. Distributions and statuses of map turtles (Graptemys sp.) in Kansas. Thesis. Emporia State University, Emporia, Kansas.. 131 pp.
Daniel, Richard E. and Brian S. Edmond. 2020. Atlas of Missouri Amphibians and Reptiles for 2019. Privately printed, Columbia, Missouri. 86 pp.
Riedle, J. Daren. 2020. Revisiting Kansas Herpetological Society field trip and Herp Count data:
Distributional patterns and trend data of Kansas amphibians and reptiles. Collinsorum 9(1):7-16.
Hullinger, Allison, Zackary Cordes, Daren Riedle, and William Stark. 2020. Habitat assessment of the Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps)
and the associated squamate community in eastern Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 123(1-2):137-150.
Riedle, J. Daren. 2020. Conservation conservations: The beast of Onion Creek. Kansas Wildlife and Parks Magazine May/June:15.
Kramer, Diedre. 2020. Pratt Education Center and Wildlife Museum. Kansas Wildlife and Parks Magazine May/June:39-41.
Rhodin, Anders G. J., John B. Iverson, Roger Bour, Uwe Fritz, Arthur Georges, H. Bradley Shaffer, and Peter Paul van Dijk. 2021. Turtles and tortoises of the world during the rise and global spread of humanity: First checklist and review of extinct pleistocene and holocene chelonians. Chelonian Research Monographs (8):1-472.
Taggart, Travis W and Sarah L Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Neosho County: KHS-2020-01. Collinsorum 9(3):11.
Mardis, Dexter R. 2021. Herp Count: Sumner County: KHS-2020-08. Collinsorum 9(3):12-13.
Taggart, Meg, Amelia Jaeger, Jesse J. Taggart, and Travis W. Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-22. Collinsorum 9(3):14-15.
Taggart, Travis W. 2021. Herp Count: Russell County: KHS-2020-24. Collinsorum 9(3):14-15.
Taggart, Megan M. and Travis W. Taggart. 2021. Herp Count: Seward County: KHS-2020-27. Collinsorum 9(3):15.
Riedle, J. Daren, Tamera D. Riedle, Zachary Riedle, and Greya Riedle. 2021. Herp Count: Montgomery County: KHS-2020-30. Collinsorum 9(3):16.
Tyson, Kelsea, Lexis Mader, Thomas Zapletal, Jeremiah Cline, Alyssa Farney, Loegan Hill, Jainee Cowen, Camron Matteson, and David Penning. 2021. Measuring herpetofaunal biodiversity in southwest Missouri. Collinsorum 10(2):13-18.
Hollender, Ethan C. and Day B. Ligon. 2021. Freshwater turtle community composition in strip pit lakes on mined lands. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 16(1):183–193.
Powell, Alexis F. L. A., Michael S. Mahr, Jennifer L. Buchanan, Justin J. Autz, and Greg Sievert. 2021. New county and drainage records of turtles in
waterways of eastern Kansas, USA. Herpetological Review 52(3):584–587.
Thomson, Robert C., Phillip Q. Spinks, and H. Bradley Shaffer. 2021. A global phylogeny of turtles reveals a burst of climate-associated diversification on continental margins. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 118(7):1-10.
Powell, Alexis F. L. A. and Greg Sievert. 2022. New distributional records of turtles in eastern Kansas and western Missouri, USA. Herpetological Review 53(2):265–271.
Russell, Elisabeth. 2023. Habitat associations and fine-scale movements of the Red-spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus) in Kansas and the efficacy of remote telemetry for monitoring small-scale movements. Thesis. Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 81 pp.