Turtle Trivia
Alegator Snapping Turtles are some of the oldest animals on earth. Fossils have been found and it appears they haven't changed in millions of years.
An old turtle hunter told me there is only one way to get a Snapper to let go when he doesn't want to. Stick a finger where...ahem...the sun don't shine.
I found one at the end of my drive this week. I live next to a lake and we find them every summer. Best way to handle them if you're brave enough is to pick them up by their tail, holding well away from other body parts. Of course, don't do this unless your pretty comfortable handling them. I've done it many times to move them out of the road, yard or what ever. When I see them on the highway, I usually stop and pick them up and put them in the back of my pickup so they don't get hit. I put the one I caught in my driveway this week in the back of my pickup so I could show my grandson. I'll be darned if the thing didn't climb out of the back of the truck! I heard a thunk and went out and there he was in the driveway again. That's one determined turtle.
We have them in our lake. Swim in the lake all the time with never a problem. Just try to get close to one when you see them in the water and you are on land. You can't do it, they're gone in the blink of an eye.
We had one in our lake that was huge. A large man could put his arms out with his hands three feet apart and you have an idea how big the shell was. I suspect it was over 100 pounds! Haven't seen it in a few years though.
Mike