Author Topic: Big Turtle (Read 2575 times)

Celia · « **on:** June 15, 2007, 08:13:08 AM »

Found this guy, or gal, resting in front yard. Hope its just passing through on its way to a big pond somewhere else.

joeyb5980 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2007, 08:15:52 AM »

yowza

I would definitely see too it that he moved right along, with no pit-stop at your own pond

frloplady · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2007, 08:46:52 AM »

I'd encourage that one into a big garbage can and help him find a new home..a long ways away!

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2007, 09:08:25 AM »

Don't tell me that's an ol' red ear slider......

Ky Kim · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2007, 09:10:49 AM »

Geeez he's a big'n. I would relocate him too.

miguynmkoi from what I can tell, he looks like a snapper to me.

Kat · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2007, 09:46:52 AM »

Catch that one while you can & move it FAR, FAR AWAY

Jerry · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2007, 09:49:44 AM »

Not a snapper, but not sure what it is, maybe a wood turtle?

Julles · « **Reply #7 on:** June 15, 2007, 09:53:53 AM »

That IS IS IS!!! a snapper!!

As a member (and former president) of the Gulf Coast Turtle & Tortoise Society, and former owner of one myself, I can attest that's a snapper. There is a difference between an alligator snapper (higher ridges on its back) and a common snapper (more smooth back, as in the above pic). Also, and older turtle will have a smoother shell, as time wears those bumps away.

Note the sharp up-turned beak, fat neck, and looong, fat tail.

You can pick them up by the tail, but mind the long neck and snapping mouth. The trash can idea is better. But they're unlikely to snap unless they feel threatened. Just moving him along shouldn't upset him too much.

Or just let him wander off on his own.

joeyb5980 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 15, 2007, 10:20:14 AM »

Yep- I agree- a snapper indeed!

Johns · « **Reply #9 on:** June 15, 2007, 10:29:38 AM »

A snapper it is...TURTLE SOUP! Ya need an axe to clean him and get him ready for the pot!!!

Celia · « **Reply #10 on:** June 15, 2007, 11:36:14 AM »

Yep, I knew he was a snapper of some kind, he just didn't have that friendly face. We have had a couple of these come through the open yard in the past week. The other was smaller, the grand kids found them both. I told them to leave it alone and let it wonder off to one of the many mud ponds our neighbors have around here close. I presume thats where he came from to begin with. He can't get in my back fenced in yard area, I don't think, so he shouldn't get to my pond. Hope they don't like to dig under fences. I think he will go on to a natural pond.

Celia · « **Reply #11 on:** June 15, 2007, 11:47:32 AM »

Thanks all, for the comments, he is gone, don't know where, but gone.

Johns, LOL, I have never made turtle soup from scratch, not even from a can. However, me and an Axe, not a good idea.

Ky Kim · « **Reply #12 on:** June 15, 2007, 11:51:12 AM »

That's what I thought it was. The tail and the pointed head, dead give aways.

We've had them pass through too. One was huge, it was bigger around than a five gallon bucket and that was just his shell. Dh didn't know what a snapper looked like. When he decided he would just pick it up and that head came around he learned real quick. I knew what it was, but didn't tell him..

( shame on me)

My nieghbors and I just laughed.

Kim

Loritx · « **Reply #13 on:** June 15, 2007, 12:23:23 PM »

Must be something in the water lately!! I have seen several large ones crossing roads in the last few weeks. We dont normaly see them unless we are by a creek or pond.

barb · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2007, 12:32:06 PM »

He's a big one. I always stop and help turtles cross the road if I see them, I hate seeing them get hit. I certainly wouldn't want to help one across the road to my house, though. LOL

Jerry · « **Reply #15 on:** June 15, 2007, 12:58:07 PM »

OOoppps!

PondmaninAL · « **Reply #16 on:** June 15, 2007, 05:26:39 PM »

It's a common snapper and can spin around 180° and grab you. So be careful around them. You can pick them up by their tail but unless you are a weight lifter, at that size, I wouldn't advise it.

Happy ponding,
Scott

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2007, 05:50:04 PM »

Turtle Soup!??!?!

GGGRRROOOOSSSSS!!!!

Kittyzee · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2007, 07:55:18 PM »

Yup, that's a snapper all right. And they hiss at you if they feel threatened. I've put them in a 5 gallon bucket or trash cans too. We trapped one out of a natural pond that was killing ducks as they "tipped". Found a couple of ducks in the pond with no heads! That snapper weighed 35 pounds! I've never seen such a large prehistoric looking animal ever.

Celia · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2007, 08:14:29 PM »

Oh LuAnn, that is terrible they can snap the heads off ducks, I didn't know that. They aren't very nice turtles to have around for sure.

Scott, thanks for that info, I didn't know they were that fast, but no fear, I wouldn't try to get that close to him.

Kim, thats funny.

Julles, thanks for all that information, I knew a little, but that fully explained the two differences. I've seen both kinds

Jerry, LOL

and thanks to everyone else

Jerry · « **Reply #20 on:** June 15, 2007, 08:33:21 PM »

They drained a lake at the Fullerton Arboretum and took out a 100 pound plus snapper!

barb · « **Reply #21 on:** June 16, 2007, 08:44:20 AM »

I didn't realize they could spin around so fast.

Sandye · « **Reply #22 on:** June 16, 2007, 11:02:57 AM »

Besides being able to spin around fast, their neck is very long and they can reach most of the way over the back of their shell. They can take a finger off if you're not careful.