Saw a Snapping Turtle in the River

@kobesbuddy (74654)
East Tawas, Michigan
April 16, 2024 6:55pm CST
Today, I was driving around the sharp curve, that passes by the river. There was a snapping turtle that peered out of the water. We consider turtles to be slow. This snapper popped its head out of the water, startling two Canadian geese that were swimming nearby. This startled me, too! Its quick motion caused the water to splash. The birds of course, scattered. I heard that a snapping turtle will at times, bite a bird's foot off! Mom's cousin Rhea said, this happened to a duck on their pond. I can't imagine how a bird could exist, with only one foot! Nature can produce some pretty strange incidents Photo: Borrowed from Pixabay
20 people like this
19 responses
@celticeagle (159227)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Apr
I've seen some geese at the park that had deformed feet and things like that.
3 people like this
@celticeagle (159227)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Apr
@kobesbuddy ..........Yes, poor animals.
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
I'm sure that something injured their feet, it's very likely!
1 person likes this
@kareng (54986)
• United States
17 Apr
Snapping turtles are dangerous!
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
Yes, those turtles definitely are frightening!
1 person likes this
@kareng (54986)
• United States
18 Apr
@kobesbuddy Indeed!!
@Tampa_girl7 (49059)
• United States
17 Apr
We have a pond behind our home and often get big snapping turtles in our yard.
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
We lived byTawas Lake and snapping turtles nested along the shoreline.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95440)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Apr
They can be dangerous.
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
Yes, they're jaws are powerful, they can bite a person's finger off!
3 people like this
@Dena91 (15904)
• United States
16 Apr
Snapping turtles are territorial, aren't they? Maybe he thought the birds were encroaching on his area.
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
Yes, snapping turtles nest near ponds and rivers. They are just like other animals and don't want other creatures near their young.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (85442)
• Bangalore, India
17 Apr
What I know about them is that they are docile in water but can be very aggressive during breeding season and when on land. And it seems that they are seen mostly during their breeding season. They have very sharp jaws to snap. They are territorial and if their territory is not respected, especially during their breeding season, they attack.
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
I think this snapping turtle was trying to attack the two geese!
3 people like this
@arunima25 (85442)
• Bangalore, India
17 Apr
@kobesbuddy Must be.
3 people like this
@sabtraversa (12977)
• Italy
19 Apr
Right, birds can fly but they need to rest as well, with one foot... it gotta be hard. I didn't know there were turtles that large by the river, that thing looks scary. It's called "snapping turtle" for a reason, and there's one species that goes by the name of "alligator snapping turtle". Woah!
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
19 Apr
The snapping turtles here get big, but not as large as some turtles. Most turtles in Michigan are mud turtles, they are very docile and harmless. The Galapagos Islands have huge turtles!
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (134453)
• Roseburg, Oregon
17 Apr
A snapping turtle has powerful jaws.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
I've been told, they can bite a person's finger off!
@LadyDuck (458583)
• Switzerland
17 Apr
I have read that they can be very aggressive, I do not like those turtles.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
Tawas Lake has these turtles nesting along the shoreline. They are mean!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458583)
• Switzerland
18 Apr
@kobesbuddy I am glad we do not have snapping turtles here.
@TheHorse (206086)
• Walnut Creek, California
17 Apr
I've seen some hop-along one footed Canada geese here in CA
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206086)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Apr
@kobesbuddy Yeppers. My brother saw a snapping turtle in Mass. recently.
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
Some vicious animal(or shark), bit off its foot!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247099)
• United States
22 Apr
Hubs and I were driving down our street several years ago and had to stop due to a snapping turtle in the middle of the road. Hubs got a stick and tried to push it towards the brook. That thing snapped and almost jumped at hubs. Finally, hubs got him as close to the brook as possible and off the road. They scare me.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247099)
• United States
22 Apr
@kobesbuddy I agree! Can you imagine having your finger bitten off by a turtle? Egads!
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
22 Apr
These turtles will actually attack people! They are very dangerous, can even bite off a finger! Thank God, your husband didn't get too close:(
1 person likes this
@just4him (306704)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
17 Apr
I'm glad you got to see the turtle. I didn't know they could bite a bird's foot off.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306704)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Apr
@kobesbuddy Yes, they are.
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
18 Apr
Mud turtles are harmless but, snapping turtles are nasty creatures.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326046)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Apr
I've seen quite a few seagulls with only one leg. They seem to get along okay but I'm sure they'd rather have two.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326046)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Apr
@kobesbuddy They probably don't actually swim a lot and it would still be able to float.
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
18 Apr
It's hard to imagine a bird surviving, with only one leg! But, landing would be the hardest part and I wonder how they swim.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17840)
• London, England
17 Apr
Certainly be keeping my fingers away from him!
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
Turtles are considered slow, snapping turtles are quick and filled with anger!
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17840)
• London, England
22 Apr
@kobesbuddy Weird thing, a snapping turtle was found in the Lake District in England and made the BBC news. It is now in a vet centre before rehousing
@RebeccasFarm (86780)
• United States
17 Apr
Turtles are my favorite..but only in the wild not captive.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
Mud turtles and painted turtles are adorable!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48446)
• Canada
17 Apr
Snappers can be dangerous and nasty animals if frightened. We had a (mean) neighbour drop one into our 5 foot deep pond that we had at our home in the country. That poor turtle had no way out as the sides of the pond were straight up and he couldn't scale them. We had to pump the water down and then scoop him out with the net. My hubs wanted to put him into a large pail and release him into the creek down the road from us, but he hissed at him. He took a stick to get him to snap at it and then he knew that he would be safe. I drove while my hubs watched the turtle in the pail, I was very nervous during that drive, but at least he was returned to the wild again.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
You and your husband did something very sweet, you helped to preserve wild life!
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73570)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Apr
Poor birds no wonder they took off when that turtle appeared, I have seen birds exist with deformed members,
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
18 Apr
A snapping turtle is vicious, towards other animals!
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29151)
• United Kingdom
17 Apr
I had heard of snapping turtles but never seen one when one day I saw a turtle in the road, struggling to climb the curb (this was in the US, we don't get turtles here except when people release their pets). I thought I would help it and went to pick it up - I quickly discovered why they are called snapping turtles! They can certainly move really fast!
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
A snapping turtle can be vicious, they have beaks like a bird that are sharp are scissors!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156584)
• United States
17 Apr
Snapping turtles are very dangerous. You can lose a finger! Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74654)
• East Tawas, Michigan
17 Apr
Yes, I would run if I encountered one!
1 person likes this