In a captivating turn of events in the Chicago River, Chonkosaurus, the city’s cherished celebrity snapping turtle, has emerged once again, reigniting excitement among local wildlife enthusiasts.
Chonk was recently seen in affectionate moments with her long-term companion, Stagg, who is also famously large in size.
However, this season brings new intrigue as another female snapping turtle, yet to be named, is seen frequently occupying Chonk’s territory near Goose Island.
Local observers have noted that Stagg has been spending increasing amounts of time away from Chonk, prompting speculation about potential relationship troubles.
“Once that third turtle appeared, the buzz among river watchers was palpable. Everyone was wondering what would happen next,” said Stephen Meyer, field operations coordinator for the environmental restoration nonprofit Urban Rivers.
Meyer, who was among the first to spot Chonk, mentioned that the sight of Stagg basking on the opposite side of the river raised eyebrows.
“We started to think, ‘Uh oh, is there trouble in paradise?’” he added.
Although snapping turtles are not known for monogamous relationships, Chonk and Stagg have shared a bond over the years, often engaging in mating rituals and cozying up together.
“Having observed their behavior, we’ve seen them mating, snuggling, and even burying themselves in the same mud spot over the years,” Meyer explained as he highlighted their well-documented romance.
Interest in the turtles intensified last summer when Urban Rivers’ team spotted a different full-size snapping turtle that didn’t resemble either Chonk or Stagg.
Coinciding with this sighting, Stagg was noted to be spending time away from Chonk, escalating the curiosity.
It wasn’t until they emerged from brumation—a period when reptiles become inactive during cooler months—on May 23 that a new dimension to the story unfolded.
The Urban Rivers crew confirmed the presence of three sizable snapping turtles near Goose Island, with trail cameras capturing all three together.
One particular trail camera recorded two turtles snuggling on the same day. Initially, Meyer couldn’t ascertain which turtle Stagg had chosen to be close to.
A breakthrough occurred the following week when Krystyna Kurth, a coordinator for the conservation action team at Shedd Aquarium, took a selfie with one of the turtles.
This allowed Meyer to identify Chonk by her unique markings, confirming that it was indeed Chonk and Stagg that viewers had spotted together.
Kurth, who has led the Shedd’s Kayak for Conservation tour for six years, noted that she has consistently seen Chonk and Stagg cuddling each summer until this year.
“It’s been a striking change; I haven’t seen them snuggling in the same area like before,” Kurth remarked.
She speculated that Chonk’s increased fame might lead Stagg to seek less accessible areas to bask out of the public eye.
“Chonk is quite the celebrity now, and she seems to swim to parts of the river where she’s not constantly in view,” she noted, adding that they typically stay close to each other.
Amid all the drama surrounding Goose Island, Kurth emphasized the positive implications of more turtles choosing this area to inhabit.
This signifies the healthy growth of the Chicago River ecosystem and the successful impact of restoration efforts.
“Chonk, Stagg, and potentially this third turtle signify the next generation of snapping turtles and highlight the thriving family dynamics,” Kurth observed.
The remarkable resurgence of the turtles also helps to spotlight the ongoing health improvements in the Chicago River, with Chonkosaurus becoming a symbol of the broader restoration initiative.
“Chonk serves as an incredible representative of the healthy transformations taking place in this environment, making her an important aspect of changing perceptions about our river,” Kurth concluded.
image source from：https://chicago.suntimes.com/parks-nature/2025/06/12/chonkosaurus-snapping-turtle-mate-chicago-river
