Why does a turtle cross the road ?

JillGJillG Registered Users Posts: 285 Major grins
edited May 16, 2007 in Wildlife
Or more to the point why does one stop in the middle ? We were minding our own business at a river taking a few bird shots. Turned around and saw this huge turtle in the road. It stopped midway. We spent the next 20 minutes directing traffic around it... I could kick myself now we were so busy I never thought to take a pic that would show scale.:D

152719524-M.jpg


152719790-M.jpg


Thanks for lookiing...Jill
Jill

Comments

  • JenGraceJenGrace Registered Users Posts: 1,229 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    :wow That is a big snapping turtle!!! I'm gonna guess about 12 inches in shell length?
    Jen

    Gallery of mine...caution, it's under CONSTANT construction! | Photo Journal

    In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose
  • z_28z_28 Registered Users Posts: 956 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    I think he is smiling at you :D
    Prehaps as big thank you for your help and courage bowdown.gif
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  • JillGJillG Registered Users Posts: 285 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    JenW wrote:
    :wow That is a big snapping turtle!!! I'm gonna guess about 12 inches in shell length?

    Yes, the shell was about from my elbow to my finger tips, which I just measured:D and is 13 inches.

    Thanks for looking.

    Jill
    Jill
  • JenGraceJenGrace Registered Users Posts: 1,229 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    Yay me! lol :D

    And z_28, snappers usually aren't prone to gratitude. I rescued one once, and after I set it down it turned around and bit the toe of my boot! Thank goodness I was wearing a boot and not sandals or I might have lost a toe! I guess I could consider the fact that it didn't bite me while I was (oh so carefully!) carrying it to be gratitude though. rolleyes1.gif:D
    Jen

    Gallery of mine...caution, it's under CONSTANT construction! | Photo Journal

    In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose
  • BIG BROTHERBIG BROTHER Registered Users Posts: 268 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    To get to the other side ?, just kidding :D Nice shots

    ______
    Jim
  • JillGJillG Registered Users Posts: 285 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    z_28 wrote:
    I think he is smiling at you :D
    Maybe he was smiling for the camerarolleyes1.gif

    Thanks for looking
    Jill
    Jill
  • JillGJillG Registered Users Posts: 285 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    JenW wrote:
    Yay me! lol :D

    And z_28, snappers usually aren't prone to gratitude. I rescued one once, and after I set it down it turned around and bit the toe of my boot! Thank goodness I was wearing a boot and not sandals or I might have lost a toe! I guess I could consider the fact that it didn't bite me while I was (oh so carefully!) carrying it to be gratitude though. rolleyes1.gif:D


    OMG you TOUCHED one ? rolleyes1.gif How did you pick it up by the shell? Thank goodness you were wearing boots !
    jill
    Jill
  • JillGJillG Registered Users Posts: 285 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    BIG BROTHER wrote:
    To get to the other side ?, just kidding :D Nice shots

    ______
    Jim


    rolleyes1.gifI know, I know you couldn't resist ....

    Thanks
    Jill
    Jill
  • JenGraceJenGrace Registered Users Posts: 1,229 Major grins
    edited May 15, 2007
    JillG wrote:
    OMG you TOUCHED one ? rolleyes1.gif How did you pick it up by the shell? Thank goodness you were wearing boots !
    jill

    Yeah, I know. We do some stupid things in our youth, don't we? :D I knew something about snapping turtles and how long their necks are, but it's still risky business trying to handle them. Luckily it was quite a bit smaller than yours, so I was able to pick it up by the back of its shell and cup its back feet with my hands.
    Jen

    Gallery of mine...caution, it's under CONSTANT construction! | Photo Journal

    In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2007
    Love that second shot thumb.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2007
    Turtle soup. :D Scary looking creature you captured here. I moved an itty bitty snapper at MI4. It was sitting in the middle of the road. Thing tried to latch on to me. If he was bigger....he might have ended up as lunch. eek7.gif:D
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2007
    Nice Photos! Last night as I was leaving work two cars were stopped in the middle of the street and one of the drivers was removing a turtle that he had just run over! :cry
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • JillGJillG Registered Users Posts: 285 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2007
    Harryb wrote:
    Love that second shot thumb.gif

    Thanks Harry:D
    Jill
    Jill
  • JillGJillG Registered Users Posts: 285 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2007
    Bird Man Photographer wrote:
    Turtle soup. :D Scary looking creature you captured here. I moved an itty bitty snapper at MI4. It was sitting in the middle of the road. Thing tried to latch on to me. If he was bigger....he might have ended up as lunch. eek7.gif:D

    Hey RaptorCaptor says there is one down his way just ripe for souprolleyes1.gif

    Thanks for looking

    Jill
    Jill
  • JillGJillG Registered Users Posts: 285 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2007
    raptorcaptor wrote:
    Nice Photos! Last night as I was leaving work two cars were stopped in the middle of the street and one of the drivers was removing a turtle that he had just run over! :cry

    Poor little thing. Gee, it must be turtle migration time:D If I had hit this one I could never pick it up, it probably would have damaged the car. Thanks for looking

    Jill
    Jill
  • ShepsMomShepsMom Registered Users Posts: 4,319 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2007
    Great shot Jill, i probably would be afraid to touch that thing, and instead would stop the traffic and wait for it to cross it. Laughing.gif
    Marina
    www.intruecolors.com
    Nikon D700 x2/D300
    Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
  • JillGJillG Registered Users Posts: 285 Major grins
    edited May 16, 2007
    ShepsMom wrote:
    Great shot Jill, i probably would be afraid to touch that thing, and instead would stop the traffic and wait for it to cross it. Laughing.gif

    Thanks Marina, I guess you and I think alike at least about turtles:D

    Jill
    Jill
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