Turtle in garage

Buck · Jun 21, 2002

Just got home from work and my son introduced me to a visitor.

Has any one got an idea why a snapper would come into a garage?

What should I do?

Thanks,

Buck

brewerbob · Jun 21, 2002

You can amend your profile and add the turtle.
Bob

wroughtn_harv · Jun 21, 2002

Or add the turtle and really change his profile!!!!

DavidInNH · Jun 21, 2002

Check out <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=rural&Number=156458&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=>Momma Turtle</A> in the Rural Living forum. They are supposed to be good eating./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

-david

Gatorboy · Jun 21, 2002

Here is what 8NTX says:

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

You usually can catch a snapper with a shovel. Just put it in front of his face and he will bite it and hang on. Put it in the back of your pickup or other solid enclosure, and relocate it to a remote area away from your home. Or follow the recipes above. They can be dangerous to pets or small children.

<hr></blockquote>

Von · Jun 21, 2002

Buck, I had one lay eggs in my back yard this week. Dug the nest up after she left and got 44 eggs. Small but tasty!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif ......O.K. I saved them in a bucket covered with sand, the kids want to see them when they hatch.

bgott · Jun 22, 2002

What should I do?

I think Chuck Berry recommended " both hands holdin' my ding-a-ling" for dealing with snappers. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

knucklehead · Jun 22, 2002

I just knew that someone in this highly diverse and intellectual group would bring up old Chuck Berry. Either that, or I would've. Good job, bgott!

Buck · Jun 22, 2002

Von,

Why::Maybe that is why the turtle came in the garage -- she's looking to lay eggs.

What to do:: We got a heavy pair of gloves and carryed her to a pond. Yes, she was a' snappen and a' clawin but no one was hurt.

Buck

DocHeb · Jun 22, 2002

It went into you garage because the garage was in the way of going from here to there. Nothing in the evolution of turtles has told them what to do about garages. It looks like it went in head first and couldn't back up - no "reverse" gear for turtles! They have their mind set on which way they want to go and will go that way no matter what. When I stop for turtles on the road, I always make sure to carry them to the side they were heading, otherwise they'll try to cross again after I'm gone.

Buck · Jun 22, 2002

Doc,

What you say makes sense. Fortunately, I think, we did the same thing you do, project the direction she was going, and carry her in the same direction. I think she was headed for the new pond in my area and that where we put her.

Thanks.
Buck

patrickg · Jun 22, 2002

Be careful, most gloves are NOT adequate safety gear for snappers and they can run their heads way out of the shell like a snake almost.

BE careful!!

Patrick

Buck · Jun 22, 2002

Patrick,

Thanks for the advice. I hope others heed it as well. We were lucky, last night!

Buck

oombala · Jun 22, 2002

the male snappers migrate looking to breed females , females then look for an area to lay the eggs.
ive seen them pull ducks and small geese underwater!
in some parts there also called alligator snapping turtles.
just plain mean and ornery.

Buck · Jun 22, 2002

Given that we put him in a nearby pond, would you let your kids swim in it?

micromike · Jun 23, 2002

Turtle Trivia

Alegator Snapping Turtles are some of the oldest animals on earth. Fossils have been found and it appears they haven't changed in millions of years.

An old turtle hunter told me there is only one way to get a Snapper to let go when he doesn't want to. Stick a finger where...ahem...the sun don't shine.

I found one at the end of my drive this week. I live next to a lake and we find them every summer. Best way to handle them if you're brave enough is to pick them up by their tail, holding well away from other body parts. Of course, don't do this unless your pretty comfortable handling them. I've done it many times to move them out of the road, yard or what ever. When I see them on the highway, I usually stop and pick them up and put them in the back of my pickup so they don't get hit. I put the one I caught in my driveway this week in the back of my pickup so I could show my grandson. I'll be darned if the thing didn't climb out of the back of the truck! I heard a thunk and went out and there he was in the driveway again. That's one determined turtle.

We have them in our lake. Swim in the lake all the time with never a problem. Just try to get close to one when you see them in the water and you are on land. You can't do it, they're gone in the blink of an eye.

We had one in our lake that was huge. A large man could put his arms out with his hands three feet apart and you have an idea how big the shell was. I suspect it was over 100 pounds! Haven't seen it in a few years though.

Mike