Found a turtle!

**k9krazee** · 05-18-2006, 02:34 PM

We found a turtle in our yard today after school!!! I have NEVER seen a turtle around here, much less one this big

Our yard is completely fenced in...so I really don't understand how he got into our yard in the first place, or why he was here...

lol I'm just glad that we found him before we let the dogs out

that could have turned bad pretty fast...but he is now safely on the other side of the fence by the creek

I know virtually nothing about turtles...is this a snapper??

Size comparison

**Miss Z** · 05-18-2006, 02:54 PM

Wow! I'm not to hot on my turtle species, but do you think he's a wild one? I don't know if you would have wild turtles near you. Otherwise he could be someone's escaped pet! I think he could be a snapper but I couldn't be sure.

**critter crazy** · 05-18-2006, 02:56 PM

hard to tell, but he does kind of look like a snapper to me!

**lv4dogs** · 05-18-2006, 03:01 PM

not certain but he looks like a snapper to me.

**ramanth** · 05-18-2006, 03:01 PM

That's a snapper alright! Good size one too.

Nice photos!

**GiantSchnauzer** · 05-18-2006, 03:28 PM

Yep, Snapping Turtle. Every year we have one of those making a nest in our front yard. Then a few months later there are tons of them making a dash to the water.

**BitsyNaceyDog** · 05-18-2006, 05:10 PM

That's definitely a snapping turtle. I don't know what kind he is though. In Florida we have 2 kinds of snapping turtles, the "Florida snapping turtle" and the "alligator snapping turtle". The Florida snapping turtle doesn't get too large, around 35 pounds. The alligator snapping turtle gets HUGE, they can get up to 200 pounds. The one you have pictured looks like a Florida snapping turtle, which I think is also called a "common snapping turtle.

**Zippy** · 05-18-2006, 05:11 PM

I don't know what kind of turtle it is but maybe king2005 will he has a turtle.

**beeniesmom** · 05-19-2006, 09:48 AM

Wow, he or she is gorgeous.
Will you keep him?

**king2005** · 05-19-2006, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by beeniesmom

Wow, he or she is gorgeous.
Will you keep him?

She stated in her first post, she moved it to the other side of the fence near the creek.. If she was planning on keeping, I would pipe up as its an adult & thats not right, unless its sick.. & having no legs isn't an excuse to remove it from the wile either.. legless snappers do great in the wild.

**beeniesmom** · 05-19-2006, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by king2005

She stated in her first post, she moved it to the other side of the fence near the creek.. If she was planning on keeping, I would pipe up as its an adult & thats not right, unless its sick.. & having no legs isn't an excuse to remove it from the wile either.. legless snappers do great in the wild.

Sorry, I must have skipped that post.

**IRescue452** · 05-19-2006, 10:07 AM

Ok, I wasn't sure when they hatched. Maybe it was looking for a nesting spot then. I remember finding snapper babies at the park and giving them a helping hand to the water but I didn't remember when in the year it was.

**king2005** · 05-19-2006, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by IRescue452

Ok, I wasn't sure when they hatched. Maybe it was looking for a nesting spot then. I remember finding snapper babies at the park and giving them a helping hand to the water but I didn't remember when in the year it was.

NEVER EVER help a turtle to the water, leave them alone. You can stand guard, but do not touch! They need the walk to the water on their own.. If one falls ina hole, ya ok, help him out, but don't walk him to the water.. theres always a reason why turtle nest a distance from the water.. I'm sure the babies long walk is healthy for them.