Snapping turtle (Page 2): Wow!

Indrajeet Singh Loc: Goa, India

Wow!

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Nice photos of an ugly critter.

Susan yamakawa

The first time that I went fishing with my dad,he caught a snapping turtle 😳

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Good capture. I understand they make great turtle soup

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Curmudgeon wrote:

Good capture. I understand they make great turtle soup

Better than great. Don't forget the dry sherry.
Bill

dat2ra Loc: Sacramento

Good grab! What a treat to see that guy.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Once upon a time, we'd be frequently warned against skinny dipping about snapping turtles.
Seems that the untanned areas may contain something that a turtle maybe interested in.
Story was, one boy had lived. The lucky one didn't.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Harry0 wrote:

Once upon a time, we'd be frequently warned against skinny dipping about snapping turtles.
Seems that the untanned areas may contain something that a turtle maybe interested in.
Story was, one boy had lived. The lucky one didn't.

There are a number of stories like that from my childhood.
Most were old wife's tales.
Hope this is one of those.
Still, if I get your drift, that is a scary thought.
One would, I believe, surely drown after the primal scream.
Bill

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

I lived in South Philadelphia,
My folks got new jobs and moved to South Jersey.
Semi rural areas within a few miles of the Black Horse Pike.
It's the 50s- I'd be sent out after breakfast, come home by dark.
SO: lakes and streams and woods and creeks. And snakes and turtles. And a few miscreants.
Most snakes avoid you, but cottonmouths would chase you.
Most turtles avoid you, but snappers would chase you.
Tho I'd believe a lot of their behavior was learned, after the aholes from before us.
MAYbe some of the admonishment came from onlookers disapproving of mixed nekkidness.
Tho we did know of a few people that got bit after poking at a snapper.
Looking at the OPs turtle I'd believe he's not too picky at what he lunges for,
so I'l stay out of range.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Harry0 wrote:

I lived in South Philadelphia, br My folks got new... (show quote)

I would like to point out that the Cotton Mouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus, does not occure north of the VA/NC line, except in the Dismal Swamp area.
No historical record of that occurrance AT ALL.
Urban mythology, third party factual information only.
Bill

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

Harry0 wrote:

Once upon a time, we'd be frequently warned against skinny dipping about snapping turtles.
Seems that the untanned areas may contain something that a turtle maybe interested in.
Story was, one boy had lived. The lucky one didn't.

I just had to look deeper.
There is one suspected snapper injury on record, and the perp was not ID'ed for sure, only suspected. The Doc thought the bite 'wrong'for a turtle.
No one has ever died from snapper inluries.
The cases on record are usually hand injuries, coming from general ignorance, but also ignorance about turtle behavior. People mishandeling the turtle. A snapper will bite you every time it gets the chance, period. So careful, your fingers.
Like snake bite, the poisoness kind, most bites are not an accident.
Bill