The back roads to a popular box store gave my day a sense of routine. It was a usual route to avoid a few extra traffic lights, skirt around several busy intersections, and to trim a little distance off of my travels for the day. That’s what it was. It was a routine drive for a simple errand.
Thoughts of the day, the nation, and the world captivated my attention. There were no other drivers around me during this backwater short-cut. So, I was startled with a scene out of Nature’s World.
There on the side of the road was a very large snapping turtle. The pointed snout and jagged shell were tell tale signs. It’s head was held up high as it scanned the road with obvious intent to cross the asphalt to the pond across the way.
I roared past the amphibian. It had the look of total detachment from the dangerous world of automobiles. That was a scene that I wanted to capture a little more closely.
So, I turned around and headed back to the terrapin encounter. My big regret was not having a camera at hand in case I got a good shot or two. Again the traffic was light so I made my way around the winding road with slower than posted speeds.
I estimated that the turtle would still be in its same spot or perhaps made it part way across the three lanes of traffic. He was faster than I estimated. It had travelled half way across the road.
But danger was fast approaching. Cars in unusual numbers were approaching the turtle’s location as it lumbered across the road. If someone wasn’t paying attention or engrossed on a cell phone conversation, this hard shelled slow-moving creature of land and water would be a pancake in short order.
Then the minivan in front of me pulled to a stop. The woman driver leaped out of her car and waved down traffic. Without hesitation she grabbed the snapping turtle from behind and picked it up. Even when the amphibian snapped violently at her, she did not shrink back but delightedly jogged across the road delivered the astonished creature safely to the other side. She loped back to her vehicle with a wave of thanks to the traffic that had stopped to give her safe passage. What a kind deed to witness in a routine day.
photo credit: Google image
4 comments
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June 19, 2009 at 7:32 am
Duane
Bruce:
I drove that same road later that same day. Despite the life saving act of that motorist, the turtle must have had a very strong reason for wanting to cross that road; what was left of it was all over the centr line.
June 19, 2009 at 10:03 am
brucefong
Goofy, turtle! He must have figured he could magically fly to safety again.
June 19, 2009 at 7:34 am
sandra lynn
I am encouraged to find out that I am not alone in my quest to help all turtles cross dangerous roadways. I find it amazing that this woman actually picked up a snapping turtle! I have found that these turtles will actually jump and turn simultaneously to warn you off, if you dare approach it from behind. Their claws are very sharp and they are aggressive and their jaws can snap a finger off a hand in a split second!
I would caution anyone against trying to pick up a snapping turtle to help it across the road. It is wise to usher it with a piece of cardboard or do what I do and use the thick plastic floor mat in your vehicle. The snapping turtle will sometimes bite onto the mat and then you can pull the turtle across the road without the risk of severe injury.
Most other species of turtles can be picked up without a problem, they usually kick with their back claws but will not hurt you. Watch out for traffic! Thanks to all who care for these ancient creatures.
June 19, 2009 at 10:04 am
brucefong
Thanks for stopping by for a visit, Sandra. You are always welcome! Come again.