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View Full Version : Saved from being rooadkill on hwy 400/69


ReneeB
06-20-04, 07:57 PM
On our way homefrom the PCPC show last sunday (June 13), my guy and I saw this odd bit of rubber on the road near the shoulder.. we slowed a bit and noticed it had massive legs and HUGE tail. We tried to move it off the road close to the pond it was heading for, but there were some tire ruts in the grass that I didn't notice and the poor thing ended up like this..
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/175snapper_belly.JPG
We waited to see if it could right itself, but it's shell fit perfectly into the tire rut so we tried to help it..

After grabbing the kevlar gloves that we keep in the glovebox (don't ask), we managed to flip him/her right side up using a nice log (he wasn't impressed and kept snapping at our legs/hands/arms/feet) for him/her to bite, and grabbing her/him by the shell near the rear legs (FRIGGEN HUGE CLAWS!). This is the result.
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/175snapper_top.JPG

One very pissed off snapping turtle.. it was about a foot across the shell and about 1.5 feet from head end of shell to tail end of shell. It's legs were atleast as thick as my wrists!

My guy picked it up to bring it to the pond's edge and got peed on for his efforts!..

Picture a guy who isn't very fond of herps, that's just come back from wandering through a room with hundreds of them, petting an adult coastal carpet python (THANKS MARDY!) and exclaiming I'm crazy for having snakes that'll get that big, carrying a very ticked off, peeing snapping turtle through foot high brushes to save it from being roadkill all because his girlfriend (Me!) is a herp lover.

CDN-Cresties
06-20-04, 08:27 PM
Job well done :thumbsup: That his/her way of saying thanks :D

Removed_2815
06-20-04, 09:13 PM
Nice job!
Also, I am very glad to hear you guys picked it up properly, I can't tell you how many times I have seen people pick Snappers up by the tail. We have plenty of evidence that this practice often leads to vertebral separation which has resulted in death...
Here is a recent post of mine detailing Snapping turtles:
Link (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=46779)
Again, good job and thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
R

Tim and Julie B
06-20-04, 09:29 PM
That is a friggin cool turtle! Good job on the rescue. Nothing like pee to get people to like reptiles! :D Good for your friend though. TB

hhw
06-21-04, 01:46 AM
Great job on the rescue!!!

Heh, your guy must love you very much.

BoidKeeper
06-21-04, 05:39 AM
Good on ya!
Cheers,
Trevor

Painted Desert
06-21-04, 06:40 AM
Well done:medbigsmi Good thing you had help, i'm sure she weighed a ton!

Linds
06-21-04, 08:34 AM
Good timing! He could've been stuck there for a while... or worse yet... could've been used as a target :(

klein
06-21-04, 08:59 AM
great job on the rescue!!!

Optimus Prime
06-21-04, 09:00 AM
Good job!

ReneeB
06-21-04, 10:45 AM
Thanks guys and gals.. I've had my guy out herping with my son and I 3 times now and he's really getting into this 'herps thing' I've got.

One more converted to the hobby!

snakers55
06-21-04, 03:24 PM
Good work, only possible downside is that if you took her back to the pond, she possibly hadn't finished her business laying her eggs and will have to redo the trip and face the road again..

ReneeB
06-21-04, 03:36 PM
S/he wasn't laying eggs, s/he was wandering to the pond, I checked for that before moving her/him. No idea if it was a female or male.

Siretsap
06-21-04, 03:50 PM
She prob already layed her eggs somewhere along the highway and was moving back to the pond.

snakers55
06-21-04, 04:43 PM
It's a female, I can tell by the pic. How are you sure she already laid (just curious)?