Done in by a 'creature' - Wildlife Adventures

[PeanutsDaddy]

Yesterday I met what looked like a prehistoric creature during an impromptu round at my home course. I hit an approach to 6 feet on the 8th hole, and I was excited at the prospect of earning a birdie. As I manoeuvred my cart to the left side of the green I happened to notice a 'creature' lumbering through the rough twenty yards short of the pond that fronts the green.

 

Being an inquisitive 'nature nut', I left my putter and walked 100 yards down the fairway to greet the biggest snapping turtle I have ever seen. As I approached he lowered his body to the ground (he reminded me of one of those cars, outfitted with hydraulics, that is featured on 'Pimp my Ride'), and tried to tuck in his parts. His shell measured almost 2 feet in length.

 

Now here's where things got a little interesting. There were two young teenagers and their Grandmother in the adjacent fairway. I was so excited by the sight of the turtle and I wanted to show these kids so I picked him up between his legs. Rightfully so, the turtle was not happy. He snapped at me a few times, and thrashed his legs from side to side, until he realized that he could not get free. We took a sojourn across the fairway to meet Grandma and the boys. I waited until all three had hit their approach shots and asked if they wanted to see a massive turtle. The boys briskly walked over and I put the turtle down. This time he didn't try to hide, but instead sensing freedom, attempted to run away. The Grandma shouted, "boys run and get your phones, you've got to take a picture of this turtle."

 

Once we all had a gander I picked the turtle up and carried him back to pond. He didn't struggle much as we approached the final destination. I hope he had gathered that I wasn't going to harm him. I placed him next to the embankment and he slid into the water, immediately disappearing beneath the murky surface.

 

I was heaving as I approached the green. I couldn't believe how heavy the turtle was (I would estimate 40 - 50 pounds) and carrying him, thrashing for 200 yards, had left my forearms feeling heavy. I shook as I took the putter back and struggled to hit the putt 4 feet. I had originally set out to play 18 holes, but the 'fight' with the 'creature' had done me in. I struggled to finish the 9th hole, packed up my gear, and headed home to tell the story to my wife and son.

 

I say boys, if you are out there, please post a picture because I don't own a cell-phone and there will be some in this Forum who will say "this post is worthless without pics" : )

 

Any good wildlife stories out there? I had seen a thread a ways back but couldn't find it again.

 

Edit: The 'creature' has met its end. Update on page 4.

 

Please continue to share your wildlife adventures.

[Hot Rod 71]

I was driving on the interstate one day and took an exit ramp; the kind that almost make a full circle. As I was almost half way around the ramp I saw a huge turtle in the road. I pulled to the side and got out so I could help him across the road toward the pond in the middle of the exit ramp. He was HUGE! About the same size as the one you are talking about. I picked him up (must have weighed 30 pounds) just as you did and began to walk toward the pond. He also thrashed and snapped at me. He had huge claws. I set him free just under the guard rail and he headed for the water. I looked down at my hands and they were covered in nasty, black mud! I wiped them with an old towel from the trunk, but I still had to wash my hands several times when I got home to get that gunk off of them.

[CAT GOLFER]

One course I play at has multiple hawk families on several of the fairways. On any one day you will see 5-7 different hawks. It is also not uncommon that you will hear them in the trees while you putt and hit shots.

On the first hole one day, I hit a pretty decent drive(only in distance) that ended up running under a tree, well a canopy of sorts created by two large trees. I drove the cart near the ball and walked in to find the ball. Found it, went to the cart for a club. As I take my address and am about to hit, I hear a hawk, super close, I thought for a second one was right above me. It was actually about 3-4 feet away kind of shielded by a branch, munching away on a squirrel. I guess he was telling me to hit the ball already.

[Krt22]

I really hope you yelled "live action!" as you picked him up

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='Krt22' timestamp='1377829094' post='7769241']
I really hope you yelled "live action!" as you picked him up
[/quote]

I wish I had. I thought it was a great idea initially. 50 yards later I was thinking " What the hell is wrong with you? What if this turtle has a heart attack and dies". I looked in the pond this morning and didn't see anything floating so I think I am safe.

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='Hot Rod 71' timestamp='1377828023' post='7769113']
I was driving on the interstate one day and took an exit ramp; the kind that almost make a full circle. As I was almost half way around the ramp I saw a huge turtle in the road. I pulled to the side and got out so I could help him across the road toward the pond in the middle of the exit ramp. He was HUGE! About the same size as the one you are talking about. I picked him up (must have weighed 30 pounds) just as you did and began to walk toward the pond. He also thrashed and snapped at me. He had huge claws. I set him free just under the guard rail and he headed for the water. I looked down at my hands and they were covered in nasty, black mud! I wiped them with an old towel from the trunk, but I still had to wash my hands several times when I got home to get that gunk off of them.
[/quote]

I love good samaritans. I often see dead turtles on the side of the road in these parts. Slow critters don't stand a chance.

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='CAT GOLFER' timestamp='1377828271' post='7769147']
One course I play at has multiple hawk families on several of the fairways. On any one day you will see 5-7 different hawks. It is also not uncommon that you will hear them in the trees while you putt and hit shots.

On the first hole one day, I hit a pretty decent drive(only in distance) that ended up running under a tree, well a canopy of sorts created by two large trees. I drove the cart near the ball and walked in to find the ball. Found it, went to the cart for a club. As I take my address and am about to hit, I hear a hawk, super close, I thought for a second one was right above me. It was actually about 3-4 feet away kind of shielded by a branch, munching away on a squirrel. I guess he was telling me to hit the ball already.
[/quote]

I am amazed that it didn't try to attack you. The geese and the little black birds aren't so forgiving at my home course.

[Miller192]

Who in the hell picks up a snapping turtle?

[Krt22]

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='Miller192' timestamp='1377830960' post='7769419']
Who in the hell picks up a snapping turtle?
[/quote]

I often think of these things after I have already engaged in the activity.

[PeanutsDaddy]

 

Boys I really didn't want you to post that picture. It was a joke. Seriously, that is hilarious. My Father-in-law has false teeth in the front and when he takes them out he looks just like the guy in the picture.

[Krt22]

But can he snatch snapping turtles and other creatures outta tha swamp right thur.

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='Krt22' timestamp='1377831575' post='7769481']
But can he snatch snapping turtles and other creatures outta tha swamp right thur.
[/quote]

Nope and he probably shouldn't be seen with his shirt off either.

[Soloman1]

I was done in by a prehistoric, snapping creature - my first wife.

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='Soloman1' timestamp='1377836411' post='7769759']
I was done in by a prehistoric, snapping creature - my first wife.
[/quote]

Sounds like you survived the encounter. Well at least we have golf.

[whiteout73]

You ever hear of "Noodling"? Apparently, that's the practice of wiggling your fingers in the muddy water until you "catch" a snapping turtle. Looks like the guy in the picture is intimately familiar.

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='whiteout73' timestamp='1377837004' post='7769793']
You ever hear of "Noodling"? Apparently, that's the practice of wiggling your fingers in the muddy water until you "catch" a snapping turtle. Looks like the guy in the picture is intimately familiar.
[/quote]

Have never 'noodled' (is that like those catfish hunters?) but when I was 9 a snapping turtle tried to remove the big toe on my right foot. Stepped on the bugger while wading through a murky pond. Scar is still visible.

[whiteout73]

[quote name='PeanutsDaddy' timestamp='1377837382' post='7769813']
[quote name='whiteout73' timestamp='1377837004' post='7769793']
You ever hear of "Noodling"? Apparently, that's the practice of wiggling your fingers in the muddy water until you "catch" a snapping turtle. Looks like the guy in the picture is intimately familiar.
[/quote]

Have never 'noodled' (is that like those catfish hunters?) but when I was 9 a snapping turtle tried to remove the big toe on my right foot. Stepped on the bugger while wading through a murky pond. Scar is still visible.
[/quote]
Yeah, now that I think about about it, I'm pretty sure that snapping turtles are a HAZARD of noodling, not the end goal.

[Llortamaisey]

[quote name='PeanutsDaddy' timestamp='1377831172' post='7769435']
[quote name='Miller192' timestamp='1377830960' post='7769419']
Who in the hell picks up a snapping turtle?
[/quote]

I often think of these things after I have already engaged in the activity.
[/quote]

You're lucky. I was taught by my pappy that snapping turtles can always reach you with there claws or beak. Sounds like he may have been too big to reach you. If he had scratched you with his claws, you'd have an infection that weeks if antibiotics couldn't help.

The best way to grab them is by the shell behind the head and near the tail. It's kinda scary at first but then you realize their head can't bend back that way.

By chance was he an alligator snapping turtle? Those things look like something out of TMNT.

[knockdstiff]

I'm trying to envision how this would play out in my head if I saw some random guy molesting the hell out of this turtle. I'd be tempted to be like hey...leave that turtle alone man. There's no possible way that turtle did anything to you, and here you are hauling it across the fairway while it's fighting for dear life as far as the thing can tell. I doubt you are actually hungry given that you were able to pay for a round of golf. On the other hand, if you were playing in front of me, I'd probably just take it as an invitation to play through and go about my round.

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='Llortamaisey' timestamp='1377841241' post='7769989']
[quote name='PeanutsDaddy' timestamp='1377831172' post='7769435']
[quote name='Miller192' timestamp='1377830960' post='7769419']
Who in the hell picks up a snapping turtle?
[/quote]

I often think of these things after I have already engaged in the activity.
[/quote]

You're lucky. I was taught by my pappy that snapping turtles can always reach you with there claws or beak. Sounds like he may have been too big to reach you. If he had scratched you with his claws, you'd have an infection that weeks if antibiotics couldn't help.

The best way to grab them is by the shell behind the head and near the tail. It's kinda scary at first but then you realize their head can't bend back that way.

By chance was he an alligator snapping turtle? Those things look like something out of TMNT.
[/quote]

A Common Snapping turtle. I was fortunate, as I picked him up in front of his hind legs and he couldn't reach me, but he tried a few times.

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='knockdstiff' timestamp='1377850927' post='7770159']
I'm trying to envision how this would play out in my head if I saw some random guy molesting the hell out of this turtle. I'd be tempted to be like hey...leave that turtle alone man. There's no possible way that turtle did anything to you, and here you are hauling it across the fairway while it's fighting for dear life as far as the thing can tell. I doubt you are actually hungry given that you were able to pay for a round of golf. On the other hand, if you were playing in front of me, I'd probably just take it as an invitation to play through and go about my round.
[/quote]

It was 90+ degrees outside, and the only people I could see within 4 holes of me were the Grandmother and her teenage Grandsons. I never would have touched the turtle if I had a group directly behind me and/or there weren't children on the adjacent hole. They were appreciative of the gesture.

[Kadin 25]

Well played sir!

[butch33611]

Where im from the round would be over and that turtle would have been on his way home for a cleanin and I don't mean a bath. You held a lot of good eaten there my friend. Lucky for the turtle hes still swimin in the lake.

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='butch33611' timestamp='1377865927' post='7770571']
Where im from the round would be over and that turtle would have been on his way home for a cleanin and I don't mean a bath. You held a lot of good eaten there my friend. Lucky for the turtle hes still swimin in the lake.
[/quote]

Now that would have been a sight - walking down the 9th fairway, struggling to push my cart to the car, with a thrashing 50 pound snapping turtle in my hands.

I didn't even know people ate snapping turtle until I got home and did some research. A real delicacy in some parts. In truth I am more a conservationist.

[PeanutsDaddy]

Well played sir!

 

Kadin, I actually thought of you and your children when I found the turtle. My son was pretty impressed by the whole tale. Gave us an opportunity to research the common snapping turtle as he has just discovered TMNT.

[Ricky Ross]

I used to be a member at a course locally. Late at night about an hour before the sun would go down we would see coyotes all the time running across the greens and fairways.

There was actually a few family's living around the course. You could also hear them howling on the other side of the course.

Could you imagine if one got close enough. Pretty sure I wouldn't be trying to pick it up and carry it across the fairway.

"What's your name little guy"? Here boy lol!!!!

[Kadin 25]

Well played sir!

 

Kadin, I actually thought of you and your children when I found the turtle. My son was pretty impressed by the whole tale. Gave us an opportunity to research the common snapping turtle as he has just discovered TMNT.

Thanks! Sounds like this was a win win :)

And to believe there are people who say a golf course is no place for kids. I beg to differ, the course is a plethora of learning opportunities :)

[PeanutsDaddy]

[quote name='Ricky Ross' timestamp='1377866534' post='7770617']
I used to be a member at a course locally. Late at night about an hour before the sun would go down we would see coyotes all the time running across the greens and fairways.

There was actually a few family's living around the course. You could also hear them howling on the other side of the course.

Could you imagine if one got close enough. Pretty sure I wouldn't be trying to pick it up and carry it across the fairway.

"What's your name little guy"? Here boy lol!!!!
[/quote]

Were these Coyotes used to human contact or reclusive? I had read a funny post a few days ago about a coyote rolling around in the sandtraps eating the rubber handle of a rake and it made me smile, but I think I would have been scared to be so close to one.

[thug the bunny]

There's nothing wrong with picking up a snapping turtle. You're not traumatizing it, and no, you won't get an automatic infection if he scratches you (not anymore so than if you were to get some pond water on a cut on your hand). They are very cool critters.

Me and my family are critter nuts. Golf and critters, that's pretty much what we do. Our home courses are full of critters, being located near the salt marshes. Every summer the one course on the marsh is full of female diamondback terrapins crawling about burying their eggs in the bunkers, and with little babies trying to find their way out to the bay. Many times we have picked up baby turtles and put them in our bags until we get to a hole near the water to set them loose. Plus we have foxes, deer, red tail hawks, northern harriers, various peeps, and on our more inland course, a few families of red headed woodpeckers. They always look beautiful with their black, white, and bright red plumage.