Fearless Mom saw the pics online of the turtles I have been picking up out of the yard. She was home when it all happened but she was preoccupied and when you have lived out here as long as she has, eh, seen one turtle, seen em' all.
Anyway, she said the first turtle that I put at the pond was actually a "snapper turtle" and she was surprised I touched it. I was skeptical because that turtle was timid and retreated into his shell. As I recall, snapper turtles are not timid. In fact, the first year we moved here from Chicago they were everywhere and I recall them being really scary. They grew huge, larger than our smallish terrier mix dog in some cases. And they hiss and snap and they are wicked fast. Although the prior pummeling from the dog might have had something to do with it.
So I looked it up online and she was most correct, the species was a Leucistic Snapping turtle and check out the blurb below from the website: http://www.wildlifeextra.com
I was happy I put this little creature back into our pond and hope he lives a peaceful, long life there. But I won't necessarily be indiscriminately picking up anymore large turtle species.
Long live the turtles!
Anyway, she said the first turtle that I put at the pond was actually a "snapper turtle" and she was surprised I touched it. I was skeptical because that turtle was timid and retreated into his shell. As I recall, snapper turtles are not timid. In fact, the first year we moved here from Chicago they were everywhere and I recall them being really scary. They grew huge, larger than our smallish terrier mix dog in some cases. And they hiss and snap and they are wicked fast. Although the prior pummeling from the dog might have had something to do with it.
So I looked it up online and she was most correct, the species was a Leucistic Snapping turtle and check out the blurb below from the website: http://www.wildlifeextra.com
I was happy I put this little creature back into our pond and hope he lives a peaceful, long life there. But I won't necessarily be indiscriminately picking up anymore large turtle species.
Long live the turtles!
Illinois Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Bob Bluett was called out by a member of the public who had found a leucistic snapping turtle.
Sadly, in the US, such unusual wildlife specimens are popular amongst collectors and can be found on the internet selling for $2500 or more, a much greater sum than ‘ordinary' turtles.
(see Rural Regularities about 'sport' in this area)
Sadly, in the US, such unusual wildlife specimens are popular amongst collectors and can be found on the internet selling for $2500 or more, a much greater sum than ‘ordinary' turtles.
(see Rural Regularities about 'sport' in this area)