Yesterday as I was out checking cattle I came across this old boy making his way across the pasture. We had good rains a few days ago and there is lots of water so, he wasn't far from the next pool. I'm sure he was out exploring, shopping for a new neighborhood. This is a Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina). They are found pretty much everywhere east of the Rocky Mountains. This one probably weighed around 12-15 lbs but they can get much larger.
He was fairly calm as I moved around him taking his photograph -- almost as if he was posing. He was obviously wary, but I suspect he was "King" of the last waterhole in which he lived and felt like he could take on anyone or, anything.
When I was a kid we sometimes would get to go fishing in a farm pond on one of several places near where my Dad was raised. There were lots of turtles, including this bad boy's bigger cousin, the Alligator Snapping Turtle. They could be vicious. They showed little fear either and would open their vice-like jaws wide while hissing at you. They put plenty of fear in this kid who was told if one bit me they wouldn't let go until it thundered.
When I look at the photos I am reminded of the creatures in Jurassic Park the movie and its sequels. The Snapping Turtle truly looks like a dinosaur with its protective shell and spiny tail. Just imagine a larger version of it coming after you.
Turtle eggs were a prized source of food for many of the tribes native to the southeastern United States. The adults were the primary ingredient in turtle soup. They are not threatened or, endangered but, if you like turtle soup, be aware that since they often inhabit stagnant pools and will eat virtually anything -- plant or, animal -- they tend to concentrate any toxins that may be in the water and eating too much turtle might not be a particularly healthy endeavor for that reason.
As any of you who read this Blog on a regular basis have probably figured out by now, I enjoy the outdoors and the wild plants and animals found there. Unlike many who think agriculture and wild places can't co-exist, I believe they are complementary. We need to re-think some farming practices such as mono-cropping, but for the most part, nature is resilient and when we do things correctly in food production, wildlife abounds alongside our domesticated animals. The grass you see that turtle making his way across is food for the cattle and also acts as a filter for the water running into a nearby creek. The runoff from this pasture is virtually clear water whereas forested areas nearby, which have little ground cover, produce muddied water full of soil and debris. Ranching is good for the land if for no other reason than that cover of grass which cleans and purifies the water before it goes into the reservoirs from which we obtain our drinking water. Besides, who wouldn't prefer a steak to turtle soup?
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