Talk of The Villages Florida - Giant turtle saved

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Originally Posted by buggyone (Post 503228)

Remember that the softshell turtle does bite. The other turtles are the red ear or painted turtle and they will not bite. They also love the water.

Do not put a gopher tortise in the pond, though. They are a land tortise. If you see one of those on the road, take it to one of the tortise preserve areas and turn it loose in the field.

How can you tell which are gopher tortise's?

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Originally Posted by Bobcuse (Post 503258)

How can you tell which are gopher tortise's?

GopherTortoise Facts and Information

Turtles -- identification guide -- Discover Life

This identification chart is helpful-- Sunnys Wildlife Florida Turtle Identification chart

I stopped one day to help one of those large turtles that managed to get in the street next to a curb so he could not get back up. I picked him up near the back of his body to stay away from his head. His claws were going like crazy. When the head came out and aimed at my fingers I realized how long the head was. I immediately dropped him but it was on the grass and pointed towards the lake and he scampered toward the lake so I figured I did a good job.

I have helped others but not one as aggressive as this one.

That was kinda like this one. He wasn't aggressive until they tried to get him moving with the push broom. Can't blame him, but it was for his own good. I didn't realize that there were that many turtles around. Better than snakes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 503232)

Just in case Frau...that someone doesn't know...

And even the astronauts were asked and knew the answer.

Ancient Order of Turtles - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And rescuing turtles is a kindly thing to do. I just like to have a little fun. And I am not sure about Gary Morse and what he does in his spare time.:icon_wink::popcorn:

But Gary? If you are reading this. Are you a turtle?

I was a turtle before I changed into a frog

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happinow (Post 503101)

I wanted to share this with everyone. Last night, while walking a few streets over from us (somewhere off Bradford loop) we encountered a few people standing on the side of the road. They hollered to us and asked of we wanted to see a big turtle. I thought......sure! Well a big turtle it was, probably about 12-15" in diameter. A soft shell turtle with a neck on him about 5" long. Apparently he had been in one of their yards resting next to a big rock where they had planted flowers. He was happily munching on the flower for his meals. They managed to scoot him out from the rock and he went and hid under the protection of a storm drain. They wanted to get him out of there so he didn't fall in and never be able to get out. They sprayed him with the hose (which he seemed to like) and that didnt work, so they got a brush broom and a shovel. He didn't like the brush broom and did he ever bite it! He was very fast with his bite. That must have ticked him off because he started coming out of the shelter of the drain and they got him into a can and off they went in their golf cart to bring him to one of the ponds. The turtle was saved from possibly getting hit or falling down the storm drain. FYI...there is no free service that will come get this turtle. You can pay to have creatures like this taken away.

And then the hungry Mr. Gator ate the yummy little turtle saved from the safe yard and put in the gator pond. :cryin2:

We just saved a big turtle on St. Charles tonight, another life saved and hopefully he found the pond he was looking for!

My grandpa told me, when I was young, that if a snapping turtle bites you they will not let go until it thunders. :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debfrommaine (Post 503944)

We just saved a big turtle on St. Charles tonight, another life saved and hopefully he found the pond he was looking for!

Hope it wasn't Herv's gator pond! :laugh:

Quote:

Originally Posted by batman911 (Post 504180)

My grandpa told me, when I was young, that if a snapping turtle bites you they will not let go until it thunders. :D

Must be true. I heard it also (the story and the thunder!). :laugh: This will be a safe week for snapping turtles to bite you!

From the description and his personality, it sounds like the same one I have rescued as he lumbered across Morse Blvd. I picked him up (pretty heavy) and lugged him over the the lake next to Morse Blvd. They seem to like wandering. Probably looking for a girl friend.

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Originally Posted by CaptJohn (Post 504201)

Hope it wasn't Herv's gator pond! :laugh:

Capt--:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobcuse (Post 503258)

How can you tell which are gopher tortise's?

Aren't they the ones that will run and get you coffee when you ask? :oops:

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Originally Posted by robertj1954 (Post 504442)

Probably running away from gators in the lake! :laugh: