Fotzlid

Went out in the back yard and saw these two critters. Been here 4 years and never knew they were there.








Not the brightest bulb in the string. Trying to climb over the fence. Eventually found its way back to the pond.



Here is the other one. Laying eggs in my veggie garden.


This one couldn't find her way out of the garden. Had to scoop her up in a shovel so she didn't flatten all my plants.

wooÐs

oh that's so cool.

Turtles are such awesome aminals lol.

ring

superbness

kramus

You probably didn't see them because they move like the wind itself.

I've always loved the sight of a tortoise. They seem so phlegmatic and persistent. And such a cool layout

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Jetée

trudging, climbing, digging... if those critters could swim and fly as well, turtles/tortoises would be the perfect natural embodiment of the all-terrain vehicle.

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Deltona Couple

Looks like they were nesting in your back yard. Soon you will see a bunch of those, but much smaller!!!

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Fotzlid

Thank you.



Watched one swim away. Pretty graceful in the water. Not so much so on land.



I hope so.
Saw some painted turtles laying eggs in the yard earlier this week but didn't have the camera handy. Somethings going to hatch this summer.

genuinegirly

SO CUTE!!!
I would have likely attempted to kiss one.
Does anyone happen to know the species?

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Fotzlid

I couldn't find a specific species. The description got it lumped in with generic term "snapping turtle".

The one in the garden was trampling my plants trying to find the way out. Managed to get it on a long handled coal shovel and carried it to the edge of the pond. I was originally trying to pick it up but didn't want to get bit. That thing managed to ring the shovel when it bit at the edge. Weighed about 30 pounds.

I don't think you'd want to try and kiss it.

bookiebye

I hope you will be putting up pics of the babis after they hatch.

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inBOIL

It would have to be Chelydra serpentina, the common snapping turtle. It's clearly not an alligator snapping turtle (wrong head shape, shell too smooth), and there's only 2 snapping turtle species in the U.S.
Chelydra.org - Difference between Common and Alligator Snapping Turtle

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genuinegirly

Aha! Thank you InBoil!

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Jetée

Good to know. I must have had the other type, an alligator snapping turtle when I was younger. I remember putting her into the fish tank one day, going off to Church, and returning later to the spectacle of a floating goldfish head at the tip of the aquarium. I originally interpreted the sight as overfeeding the fish, and I led to its eventual blowuptuation.

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bit_of_honey

For some reason I want to wipe his eyes.. they look so clogged like how can he see??

cellophanedeity

These guys are so ugly they're cute! You got great shots of them!

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newtx

I am glad you didn't send them to a petting zoo. 30 pounds is a lot of snapping turtle. Probably could have bitten the shovel handle in two. Excellent pics.

hotdogg

That is definitly is a snapping turtle builing a nest...they will lay dozens of eggs that look like ping pong balls...and yes they could easily snap a bone in your arm...Not even close to a petting zoo candidate.