Strange Turtle Behavior

I was out on a small, local lake last night, and noticed a bit of commotion in the shallows. At first, I thought it may have been a pike that bit off something a bit too large. Then, I thought it looked a bit more like a muskrat or otter. Eventually, curiousity got the better of me, and I zoomed over for a better look.
What I found was a large snapping turtle splashing around. I got right up next to it, and it continued to swim around in circles with it’s head above water. I poked it with my fishing rod–I have no doubt I could have grabbed it if I would have wanted to. Eventually, it swam off.
Has anyone seen such behavior from a turtle? It was a first for me.

Probably had rabies.

Seriously, when animals don’t run or act strangely, there is probably something wrong with them.

I thought maybe it was working on swallowing something a bit too large.

Caught in a fishing line?

Quote:

---

Caught in a fishing line?

---

Nope. Free and clear. I was debating bringing it home for a meal, but I know exactly how my wife feels about snapping turtles.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Caught in a fishing line?

---

Nope. Free and clear. I was debating bringing it home for a meal, but I know exactly how my wife feels about snapping turtles.

---

What were you going to feed it?

Quote:

---

Probably had rabies.

Seriously, when animals don’t run or act strangely, there is probably something wrong with them.

---

I just learned on the discovery channel last night that they can’t get rabbies because their baody temperature is too high.
DT

A few buddies and I were out in the boat one day when we saw a giant snapper basking on shore. We convinced my buddy to go and catch it.

I swear to god, that thing was as fast as Usain Bolt. It took after him and he came running at a dead sprint and dove back into the boat. I don’t know where the rumor that they’re slow got started.

Gary and I were out on Pool 2 last night, saw a weird critter on shore. We figured out it was a red fox that has a bad case of mainge. The only hair left on the thing was a tuft of fur right on the tip of it’s tail. It was ugly…I thought we were looking at the legendary Chupacabra!

And no gun to put it down? What happens on the river, stays on the river.
DT

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Caught in a fishing line?

---

Nope. Free and clear. I was debating bringing it home for a meal, but I know exactly how my wife feels about snapping turtles.

---

What were you going to feed it?

---

mine too1 but that doesnt stop me from bringing a good ole turlte meal home. more for me that way!

Quote:

---

I just learned on the discovery channel last night that they can’t get rabbies because their baody temperature is too high.
DT

---

I think you mean too low as turtles are cold blooded. Also, only mammals get rabies.

Yup, thats what I meant.
DT

OK – here is my turtle story. I am having lunch beside a pond watching the ducks swim around. Suddenly BAM something has a duck by the legs. There was quite a battle for awhile with all the ducks trying to help out. Finally the turtle drags the duck out into the middle and soon DOWN SHE GOES – never to be seen again. I am assuming it had to be a big turtle. Very cool to see. (unless you are a duck)

Eeinie meanie minie mail, catch a turtle by the tail. Drizzle, drazzle, druzzle, drome” “Time for dis vun to come home”

Dan, that guy needed to be circumcised!!

They aren’t very smart. I’ve seen them snap forward and I have seen them snap back across their shell. Now if they snapped under, there would be less turtle soup as Dan demonstrates the way people hold them.

Snapping turtles have absolutely no fear. I tried scooting one off the road one night by poking its back end (did I just open a door) with a tire iron. The thing didn’t scramble away, it did a 180 and squared off with me.

I also called the fox last night I saw Chupacabra.

CWD