Dear gawd! This would scare the bejesus out of me if I caught it.

[Are_grits_groceries]

100 lb alligator snapping turtle

Oklahoma angler Dave Harrell was hoping to catch some catfish in Eufaula Lake Monday - but instead he nabbed a prehistoric-looking turtle likely tipping the scales at 100lbs.

Harrell released his massive catch, which turned out to be a rare alligator snapping turtle, but not before posing for a selfie that has gone viral.

The snapshot showing a bare-chested Mr Harrell struggling to hold onto to the bulky reptile with its maw agape has been shared more than 10,000 times on ?Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's Facebook page.

<snip>
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2628329/Shell-shocked-Fisherman-catches-dinosaur-turtle-weighing-100LBS

That turtle could really hurt somebody with a bite.
No way I would have held it.

[hlthe2b]

1. re: "Could really hurt with a bite"--- not to mention his talons. Geebus

So very glad the guy set it free though. I hope others leave it alone.

[FSogol]

2. Glad they released Gamera back into the wild.

[BlueCaliDem]

7. One of my FAVORITE "Godzilla" opponents!

Can't wait to see the new Godzilla this weekend!

[AnneD]

13. Same here...

take my money already!

[freshwest]

36. God, I love those classic Japanese flicks! But not the American one in NYC...

I have to admit, I was soon rooting for Godzilla to kill the screamers. They focused on that too much, IMO. The action scenes were padded with it, not that much content. Maybe I couldn't get a feeling for the charactes, as they didn't go into depth. I couldn't watch all of it.

There was a Japanese version from 2006:

Godzilla Final Wars Godzilla Vs Zilla

Godzilla Final Wars Trailer

Godzilla Final Wars Theatrical Trailer

to AsahinaKimi

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014505567#post35

Hope you nnjoy seeing the new one and that it incorporates a lot of the Japanese memes.

I didn't know the movie monster was modeled on an alligator snapping turtle, or that the real ones look as fearsome as the one in the OP.

OMG, I hope I never run into one of those IRL!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

60. I ALWAYS rooted for Godzilla!

that was the point, I thought?? Godzilla's so cute!

Well, Gamera's cute too....I wouldn't want them to kill each other.


This Snapper's cute too! I used to save animals crossing the road when I was out in the boondocks. For snappers I would lay down a jacket or blanket, push them onto it with my snow scraper, and then drag 'em to the grass/swamp/woods.

[zappaman]

31. Well played!

Made me laugh and realize I have to see GODZILLA this weekend!

[Arugula Latte]

3. That could snap off a finger like it was a pretzel.

Dinosaur turtle!

[notadmblnd]

4. But just think about how good the soup is gonna be

yum!

on edit: No need to flame, I see they turn it lose

[DirkGently]

5. At last, a REAL giant wildlife photo. And a live one.

He's holding the shell, so no forced perspective. I actually saw one of these once, close to that size, in the fountain of a fancy restaurant, of all places, in Tampa.

My grandfather tossed it a Certs breath mint (probably not a good idea, but it was not my call). It went from its default stock-still "rock" impression to lightning speed in a blink to snap it up. No idea whether it improved his breath -- just hope the "retsyn" didn't hurt the poor thing.

Cool to see such an amazing creature, and not laid out dead, for a change.

The size of those claws!

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. Oh they can move.

That's why I wouldn't hold him and I have always given them a wide berth. They are mean and nasty.

[DirkGently]

8. Some buddies tried to "rescue"

a big soft shell turtle clambering across a road here (I actually just saw one of those myself) a while back.

They tried to lift it from the back, but they have nasty tempers and a looooong neck. They let him go on his way.

[AnneD]

12. I once tried to get a large snapping turtle....

across the road and to a nearby bayou before we both got hit. That was when I discovered how long and flexible their necks were.

I had a small 2x4 in the car. Waved it in front of him and he snapped at it and didn't let go. I was able to get him to the water without losing any digits.

[redqueen]

17. Aw, they're not mean though, just scared

They don't wanna be soup!

I've rescued plenty of snapping turtles. I just get them toward the back of their shell and have had no problems.

[AnneD]

19. This was the largest one....

I ever saw. It was the diameter of a car tire and very heavy. Had green algae on it's shell. I hold no grudges, the snapping turtle was just being a snapping turtle.

[redqueen]

21. Dang

That's a big'un all right. The bjggest ones I've ever come across are about 14-16" across.

Mostly I just find red eared sliders I'd be happy to let them go on their way, but too often they end up getting hit.

[AnneD]

23. This was so big...

I figured he would end up being a tempting target for some stupid redneck idiot (I live in Texas). A snapping turtle that big must have been very old and deserved to live, even if he kept trying to bite a plug out of me.

[Jamastiene]

62. Thanks for saving him.

GMTA! I like in NC and have the same problem. I have had to move critters I know people would want to kill if they knew they were around. You can't tell anyone local you saw some cool critter. They'll show up with rifles ready to shoot it. It's awful.

[DirkGently]

27. I keep rescuing the little sliders

Found one once on the front portico of a car dealership. Figured he came from the nearby retention pond and put him back there, but wow -- it was 100 yards away. The little guy / girl was the size of a silver dollar at most.

[eppur_se_muova]

53. I rescued one walking into the door of Dollar General Market.

Just a baby, but he was lumbering along with real determination. A grabbed him by the rear of the shell and carried him around to the side of the building -- there's low growth there, and apparently a small stream in the area.

I have no idea where he came from. This is a mixed business/residential area, very few undeveloped lots.

[DirkGently]

25. That's a pretty good trick! n/t

[Laffy Kat]

30. Same thing happened to me except it was a terrapin.

It ended up chasing me around the car! Those things are surprisingly fast. Yikes.

[AnneD]

35. LOL LOL LOL.....

that snapper's neck reached midway to his back legs. I have never underestimated turtles since. My little daughter was sitting safely in her car seat laughing at me.

[Are_grits_groceries]

15. People don't realize how long their necks are.

That's another reason you better be really careful with them.

[madokie]

9. For starters

There is no way I would "catch it" let alone hold it like that.

[Scootaloo]

11. Looks like his line snagged it

No way to get the hook out without getting the turtle out of the water - and yeah, the responsible thing is to get that hook out, 'cause their skin is so soft, leaving it will just open a big nasty rip that could kill the thing... and that turtle's been sucking up fish since this guy's grandpa was adding to the family, so that'd be an awful waste.

[awoke_in_2003]

44. I'd wimp out

and cut the line.

[Xyzse]

46. Me too...

[Scootaloo]

47. They're not too tough to handle

They have shit for eyesight out of the water, so will mostly just gape until something passes in front of their nose. make that something a stick (or in this guy's case, maybe a baseball bat...) and he'll latch on and you can do your thing.

It's those legs you've got to watch out for. He could gouge out a pretty good chunk of flesh with those claws. Flip him on his back with his mouth full and he'll just sort of curl up, though. Perfectly safe.

'Course, supporting 120 pounds of turtle, with a serrated shell, on your knee as we see in the photo... ouch - and I hope he boils his hands before eating anything, 'cause that thing's carrying more salmonella than an entire supermarket of bad chicken.

[awoke_in_2003]

51. And doing it in a boat?...

the guy has a bit more guts than I.

[Puzzledtraveller]

10. I fought a monster like that playing Final Fantasy

[NuclearDem]

14. Anguirus' baby.

[frylock]

32. well played!

most people would've been lazy and opted for the Gamera angle.

[KittyWampus]

16. Alliagator Snapping Turtle will fuck Honey Badger's shit up.

[bettyellen]

29. HA! I love you Kitty!

[VanillaRhapsody]

43. Oh you got that right....Honey Badger would suddenly start giving a shit

if confronted with one of those. My ex caught one bigger than that in florida and kept it in our spare bathroom tub for a week.....we finally decided to set it free....we were walking down the street in Jacksonville fla....we had 2 reactions from people.....either they crossed the street to avoid us...OR they kept asking us how much we wanted for it as they wanted to cook and eat him....By the way you have to hold these things by the tail as that neck can reach around and take off your whole hand.

[Scootaloo]

48. Honey Badger and Gator Snapper would team up, and then we'd all be right fucked

[VanillaRhapsody]

50. Yes if someone suddenly genetically modified the Honey Badger with the genes of the Gator Snapper

it would be full on doom for the human race!

[Scootaloo]

56. Alternately, it could be delicious n/t

[VanillaRhapsody]

59. I'd guess it would be a bit stringy!

[MineralMan]

18. Not a chance. Cut the line and let

the big fellow swim off. I've hooked a few snappers while bass fishing. Just cut 'em loose. The hook will rust out soon enough.

[awoke_in_2003]

45. Yep, I agree...

no way I would let that thing in the boat with me.

[Blue Owl]

20. Mitch McConnell got up on the wrong side of the bed

n/t

[Brigid]

22. Naw.

That snapper is much better looking than McConnell.

[alfredo]

28. And has a stronger moral compass

[Mike Daniels]

24. There's a fine line between brave and stupid.

That said, that picture sure beats the bejezus out of "you should have seen the one that got away".

[AverageJoe90]

26. Hey, it's none other than Bowser, King Koopa! =D

LOL.

[Liberal_in_LA]

33. whoa

[frylock]

34. love the look on that guy's face..

"Just hurry up and take the damn picture already!"

[DirkGently]

37. Looks like straight physical effort

That's one heavy beastie.

[frylock]

54. i can't imagine that it sat still for the photo either..

I once landed a regular, garden variety snapper while fishing a pond out behind my gramma and grampa's house in Rochester, NY. that thing went ape poopy when we got him ashore!

[aggiesal]

38. It's a mutant ninja turtle!!! n/t

[FSogol]

39. Caption: The extreme realism in the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie ruins it for me.

[KansDem]

40. I would have kept it...for the afternoon anyway...

That maw would surely open a few beers quickly and effortlessly!

[leftyladyfrommo]

58. They are neat but they are really dangerous.

Those snapping turtles strike just like a snake.

I have a little Midwestern mud turtle that I have had for over 40 years now. He always creeps on his food slowly so you have plenty of time to get your hand out of the way. But those snapping turtles strike really fast. One that big could probably take off a leg.

I don't think they are especially aggressive toward humans. I don't think I've ever heard of one attacking someone while they were swimming. They will attack if they are threatened.

[allan01]

41. hey. i was just thinking that tooo (gamera)

[aikoaiko]

42. "The turtle was then released into the water unharmed." Good on them.

[pa28]

61. Yep. Good man.

[MoonRiver]

49. I think it's cute!

coochie, choocie coo!

[sakabatou]

52. Snapping turtle can do real damage if they bite on you

[Spitfire of ATJ]

55. "Old Bob" pulled from Laguna Lake in Fullerton was huge too....

There were reports of sightings of SOMETHING that was pulling ducks under for 75 years.

These things live for a LONG time. They're still finding living ones with civil war era musket balls in them.

[TBF]

57. Aw -

I bet he was even more scared than the guy trying to hold him! I'm glad they let him go