Big Snappin' Cooter

[CharlieJ]

Our family likes to provide what we call "turtle rescue" -- by helping our slow moving friends across Southern roads (we live in rural North Carolina). The kids really get a kick out of helping. We always make it as safe as possible -- moving about on the open roads.

Anyway, while coming home from work this afternoon, I saw this big fella crossing the road. He was nice and calm until I tried to pick him up for transport across the road. He snapped and scared the pee-dunkers out of me.

I eventually found a way to get him across the road -- just in time. Several cars passed by. One was sure to have hit him if he was still in the lane. The snappin' cooter (as a friend calls them) didn't seem too appreciative of the assistance -- by trying to bite me several times. In any event, he wasn't road kill -- and I got to take a few pics.

The dollar in the last pic was a tip he gave me for helping him across the street. [In reality, the dollar is a size reference.]
ENJOY!


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[Adrya]

Nice Common Snapping Turtle you've got there.

[SnakeCollector]

hope mine is that big some day and i bet that turtle is more happy than what he could have been which is dead

[CharlieJ]

THANKS Adrya! I hope he made his way to where ever he was going. Hey, I just noticed you're in Morgantown. My wife's family is from the Huntington area (southwest of you). We visit there at least once each year. I like the area, except for the rainy muck around Christmas time. [Sorry to get off topic]

[VoodooChile]

Yepp thats what my hubby saw crossing the road a couple of times...
He actually brought one home...LMAO..Still havent quite figured out HOW he got it in the tote..lmao

Then he said he saw another one crossing the road today..I asked him why he didnt bring it home too, and he said it was dead..it had been hit. The shell was intact, and I said, "are you SURE it was dead??"
So my hubby being the really FUNNY guy he is says "Yeah, I made sure, I backed over it a few times!!!" LMAO..He would NEVER do that..just tormenting his POOR wife!

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

Those are so cool. My favorite besides the aligator snapper.

[CharlieJ]

The one pictured is actually smaller than one we saw last Summer. We "rescue" a couple dozen smaller turtles each year. This is one of the five largest we've seen.

[WeissChoice]

That guy is too cool~!!