Paging Professor gekkogekko...
 

We awoke this morning to a new addition to our pet collection...Riley, our black Lab/Blue Heeler mix, was barking frantically at something in the side yard, just a few feet from the creek...the wife investigated, and found what she insisted was a snapping turtle...she, being the country girl was very sure what it was, & I wasn't about to argue so early in the day...but I did suggest that some pics would be a good thing.
As background info, it rained heavily last night, which may have driven the turtle to higher ground. Wife found evidence that he/she had tried to climb into her flower bed next to the house, but was prevented by the border of rocks...the turtle was covered in dirt (which can be seen in the pics), & there was about a one foot circle of disturbed earth around him/her...when my wife got in too close, the turtle snapped at her, making her jump back (& making our 15 yr old laugh)...could that dirt be covering a nest of eggs, or was it just a disoriented reptile cutting donuts in my yard? (damn punks...)

note: the last pic is the most recent we have of Riley, just cuz I have room for another pic...

oh......... c'mere Riley! C'mere boy! :D


I had a great dane when I was growing up with damn near the same markings. Sure do miss that big fella, he was incredible.

Actually, Riley is a bitch...literally...she has this little white spots on her head, probably the heeler markings coming thru...she is turning out to be a quite amazing dog herself...

Post script to the turtle story, the pics don't show that it was a big honkin' mofo, I estimate about the size of a large serving platter...after the photo shoot, our model disappeared fairly quickly, I assume making the 10-15 foot descent back to the waterway...

Weird. About 8 years ago a turtle came and layed eggs in my flower bed on Mother's Day. Must be that time of year.

Doh!

oooops, sorry Riley. :yikes:

I remember years back my sis's 2nd ex hubby now, had found a little turtle out on the road when he was truckin', he almost ran it over so he stoped and brought it home. Had it in a plastic kids pool and then it rained so much the water rose and off the turtle went.

Snapping turtle, no question. Most likely it's a female, possibly looking for a good nesting site. Especially given the "disturbed earth", it's equally likely she found one. And yes, while they're there, they will defend their nesting sites, but baby snapping turtle are precocious, so the mother will wander off after laying so as to not give away the location of her eggs to nest predators.



Cool story for Mother's day, though, thanks.

So Scotz will have baby turtles then?

Reminds me of a famous Mad magazine cartoon.

or some critter be it coon or dog etc. will have them

Cool happenings! TY for the pics!

Ya, thats too bad..................but life. :(

No, Scotzoid's wife will have the babies.

Oh!!!!! And here I thought the eggs would hatch. :banghead: