Our farm pond has an ancient inhabitant

   / Our farm pond has an ancient inhabitant #1  

Happy Gilmore

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Jan 11, 2014
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Location
Southeastern, MA
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Biggest snapper I've seen in the pond yet. It was roughly 18" from front to back of shell. Any guesses as to age?

image.jpg
 
   / Our farm pond has an ancient inhabitant #3  
Watch your fingers!
That is one huge snapper.
 
   / Our farm pond has an ancient inhabitant #4  
Time to break out the 12 gauge! ~~ Lowell
 
   / Our farm pond has an ancient inhabitant #5  
Time to break out the 12 gauge! ~~ Lowell

Time to live and let live... The thing could be 70 years old. Kinda disrespectful to kill it with a shotgun "just cause".
 
   / Our farm pond has an ancient inhabitant #6  
That would be some pretty bad meat anyway. Is this a swimming, fishing or livestock pond? I guess it don't really matter, if this is the first time you have seen him, he knows how to stay out of trouble.
 
   / Our farm pond has an ancient inhabitant #7  
Mmmmm, turtle meat!
 
   / Our farm pond has an ancient inhabitant #8  
Apparently in the southern US they have an alligator turtle that makes the north eastern snapper seem like a child's pet by comparison .
 
   / Our farm pond has an ancient inhabitant #9  
Time to live and let live... The thing could be 70 years old. Kinda disrespectful to kill it with a shotgun "just cause".

I don't like snapping turtles in my ponds, Painted turtles are fine, but not snappers, especially the big ones! ~~ Lowell
 
   / Our farm pond has an ancient inhabitant #10  
IF you raise fish in your pond, a big snapper can clean it out pretty quick. I prefer not to kill predators but if I cant relocate them or discourage them from fishing my pond, my rifle usually takes care of the problem.

There are plenty of other ponds around me, 5 within 1/4 mile, that the predator species can go live life as they choose. Just don't come eating my high dollar fish that I have to stock.
 

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