"SNAPPING TURTLE" IN MY BACK YARD. A BIG SNAPPING TURTLE IN LOVETTSVILLE VA.

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"SNAPPING TURTLE" IN MY BACK YARD. A BIG SNAPPING TURTLE IN LOVETTSVILLE VA.

WHO PUT THAT BIG ROCK IN MY BACK YARD? NO, IT'S SUPER TURTLE!!

Glancing out my back window on Friday made me look twice. You know the feeling. You see something and then look away. However, the brain won't compute. So, you have to look again, and again. That's exactly what happened. Time to grab the camera.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

Turtle

To get perspective on the size of this turtle, look at it next to the septic access in my back yard which is about 32 inches wide.

Turtle

What kind of turtle is it? It's a Snapping Turtle, of course. How do I know that? As far as I'm concerned, there are only two kinds of turtles, Snapping Turtles and those that went into the soup. Snapping Turtles are often found in areas around water and there is a creek that goes through the moat in front of my home as well as a creek that runs down the hill on the left side of the lot, which is where it probably came from. It was a BIG turtle. Since I've spent a lot of time on lakes in the area, I see them often, but never one this big.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-Mail.

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Posted by Lenn Harley, Real Estate Broker, Virginia & Maryland on 06/21/2009 07:35 AM

Comments (49)

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49 Comments on "SNAPPING TURTLE" IN MY BACK YARD. A BIG SNAPPING TURTLE IN LOVETTSVILLE VA.

JUN

2009

Lenn, he is a big one! This time of the year, they lurk under water in lakes and grab baby ducklings for their breakfast!

Oh my word... look at that puppy, he's huge! I'm used to seeing such itty bitty ones up here. Wow... nice shots. ;-)

That "guy" looks like he could snap your finger right off. We have a lot of smaller ones around Belmont Bay. In the summer we end up stopping and moving them out of the middle of the road so they don't get squished.

Guess he was taking a field trip! I have seen gopher tortoises that big but never a snapping turtle.

Lenn, he is BIG! What's with the turtles lately? I've read a few posts about turtles in the street, and then someone else comments they had one in their street...is it "Revenge of the Turtles" time? LOL! Great pics to start off the morning, Thanks Lenn.

Hi Lenn - as far as I know, we don't have turtles up here in NH, not that I've seen anyway. I do see them frequently when I'm down in Florida visiting family. I'd be just as surprised as you to see that, and that's a big one, too. Maybe you should try him in some soup...... ;-)

Lenn... he is a big one.. I remember my first encounter with a snapping turtle, when I was about 7 yrs old... PS>. there are box turtles also. ;o) They have more of that rounded type shell. In any case, how was the soup? lol

jeff belonger

Lenn - and he doesn't look in a good mood? Around here that's what some of our well accesses look like.

He's probably like many right now ... homeless.

That is a large snapping turtle for sure. Probably used to have a Chrysler dealership and is now working for comcast or another cable co. I used to feed one for a short time before it went back to the beach. Amazing creatures.

Being able to capture moments like that sure can make one's day. That a nice picture thank you for sharing.

Lenn,

That's one HUGE, cranky-looking turtle! Please tell me you used a zoom lens to capture this photo....

I'd keep my fingers and toes light years away from that dude. he could probably snap a broom handle in half

Hi Lenn

I guess we never know what we will find in our back yard.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

John J. Agreed and he looked as though he was looking for something to snap.

Coleen. You bet I did. I did venture out onto the deck to get a direct shot, but . . . .

Mark. Isn't it the truth. I've got a few more when I get time. I got a buzzard up close and personal this week.

Lloyd. Amazing indeed. He was slowly meandering up my back yard, one show step at a time. Fact is, he owned his area.

Susie. He's not homeless. He probably lives in my back yard.

Mike. That's a standard septic access.

Jeff. I'm giving him his space. Over the years, I have caught these fellows on a hook while fishing. You can't kill them. I've tried.

Ann. We have a raproachmont.

Mary. I believe it's all the rain we've had. We're a good inch or more over avearage for spring. It must be sending them moving around. Who knows?

Gary. I'm guessing it's a Snapping Turtle. It meets the descriptions I can find.

Cindy. I saw a sign on the Greenway last week about not driving over turtles. I see them often on that road around the lake.

C. Thanks. He's about the largest I've ever seen outside the zoo.

Pat. Baby ducklings, frogs, fish, snails, helgramites, crayfish, fingers.

Lou. So true, especially when you live in the country. I've found deer, turkey, groundhog, turtle, all types of birds, fox, . . . . .

They grow large where I live as well. And they are dangerous not just to goslings, but to human fingers.

We often see them trying to cross the road. Probably not quite that big though! Great pictures of him!

Janice. Doesn't everything grow big in Texas?

Connie. We have them crossing the roads too. I often wonder why.

Lenn, great photo. I live about 1,000 ft. from a large lake and we always see turtles this time of the year. Had one in my back yard a couple of weeks ago. I think they come out to lay their eggs. I love to watch them but do keep my fingers away.

Turtle soup is a great delicacy in Louisiana and south Texas. I have a great recipe for turtle sour au sherry.

John M. I suspect that they'll be found around any water.

Richard. Not to my liking. I've tried it. Tastes like aligator. I don't like that either.

Lenn - I have never liked snaping turtles, and it starting back in my childhood when I had 2 baby ducks that were eaten by one. Snapping turtles are not the same as your box turtles that you find in your yard. They are usually the top of the food chain in any body of water you might find. They eat fish, snakes, birds, and anything else that happens to be in the water when they are around.

Needless to say, The ones that find themselves in my yard don't usually survive.

Lenn - Great close up photo. You have steady hands and a good camera!

Lenn- Moat in front of your home? - Truly, your home is your castle, but I'd stay clear of that interloper!

BTW - great picture.

Larry. This thing was so big I don't believe it could be killed. It will die a natural death in about 50 years.

Gail. Thanks. Cheap camera and a good opportunity.

Marilyn. I'll post a photo of my moat.

Marilyn. Photos of my house with the "moat". Needless to say, it wasn't there when I purchased the lot. The county ordered it after contract to get a permit. There was a little stream in front coming from the lot next to mine and water kept washing the road out.

It's all storm water management, blah.

Lenn's House with Moat

Lenn's Moat

You can see the moat in front of that decorative fence. In heavy rains, the water will run as much as a foot deep, which is why the county ordered it installed.

Oh darn, Marilyn beat me to it...I pictured a castle with a wonderful moat protecting you from unwanted sales reps:) Cute turtle too.

Lenn, My daughter and I love to help the box turtles across the road but I steer clear of the snapping turtles, they have really long necks!They cross the road to get to the other side. ;)

Diane. HA! That turtle looks "cute" only in a photo.

Cool photo Lenn, what is his name or oh nooooooooooo, you didn't, did you? I love you home but I pictured an army around it.

Charles. Thanks. It's really a fun house. The turtle was fun too.

Lenn- I get it..."A River Runs Through It" Did the county also provide you with a drawbridge? Better yet - Prince Charming. Or do you have to kiss a turtle? Oh wait, that's a frog.

Lenn --- WOW --- that is a large turtle --- we have a lot of turtles, but have not seen anything like this. Love your home, too. Thanks for sharing.

Mama Liz's Signature

Marilyn. IF I COULD HAVE FISH in that moat, I'd love it. As it is. . . . . I own the dang thing so I have to keep the weeds in it cut. I pay taxes on that dang thing

Liz. My pleasure. I love my home. I don't love my moat. Of course, it keeps the water from washing out the road.

Lenn- Doesn't sound fair. Didn't the county ever hear of Eminent Domain. You could have gotten some dollars and the county would have been responsible for the weeds.

Marilyn. I had several options. However, I had sold my home. I was living in an apartment in Germantown. I would have had to sue the county for them to take it. Probably the builder too. Not that I didn't think about that.

I wanted my home.

I love my home.

How many folks have a home with a moat??

Lenn- As I started this conversation...Your home is your castle - ENJOY!

It looks as though Super Turtle is out for a Super Sunday Stroll.

Marilyn. I surely do.

Don. HA! I have a 1.6 acre lot. He had a long way to go up the back hill.

Lenn, he is big enough to saddle up and ride :) :)

You could feed a family of four off that guy for awhile ..... LOL

George. I am of the opinion that when they get this big, they can't be killed.

Lenn - Turtles are my favorite animals. I really want to take care of them but it's another chore I have to get to everyday, so I decided to get Mr. Box instead.

Can I show it to you?

I dug a new home for Mr. Box - we call it the dry creek - in my backyard. I love Mr. Box because I dont need to "care" for him.

Loreena. Whimsy. I love whimsy. I'll have to post some of the whimsical things in my yard.

LEnn,

i have never seen snapping turtles. There are gophers here, and sea turtles, and I have seen those, but not the snapping one. Looks threatening

Lenn - We had many of these snapping turtles while living in my first home which was on a very large pond and DEC protected refuge. Loved the view and the privacy, hated the nuisances. It obviously was not a deterrent - the house sold in less than a week and we made the best % return on investment ever out of 4 other homes we've owned. I wonder if snapping turtles bring good luck!

JUN

2009

Lenn - I just discovered after I read your post that the legislators here in my state found it necessary to pass a law dealing with, of all things, the process of adopting snapping turtles. I kid you not - there was a brief statement about that in the paper over the weekend. I did a double-take when I saw that, as I'd read this post earlier in the day.

Who knew there was such a driving need to deal with adopting snapping turtles here in NH???

Ann

JUN

2009

I've never seen a snapping turtle, he does look mean! Sure would love to give him to a few of my "favorite" Realtors! LOL

Jon. These turtles, many quite large are found near bodies of water all throughout my area. Since I've spent a lot of time fishing, I've seen many and had many of them "take" the bait.

Carol. I love living in the country. The "nuisances", if they are creatures in the wild are not a bother to me. They are part of the attraction.

Ann. You make a good point. Most of these creatures need protection from the humans, not the opposite.

Michelle. I didn't test his temperment.

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Lenn Harley, Real Estate Broker, Virginia & Maryland

Leesburg, VA

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Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate

Address: Lovettsville, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Stafford, Woodbridge, King George, Fredericksburg, Leesburg in VA., Rockville, Laurel, Columbia, Baltimore, Waldorf, Frederick, Eastern Shore, Bowie, Harford, Annapolis in MD. , Maryland, Virginia

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Maryland and Virginia real estate agents and brokers serving buyers and sellers with experience. Search listings in Maryland and Northern Virginia and get daily updates of new homes for sale by e-mail. Contact Lenn for a tour of homes. REALTORS available every day for home tours. Homefinders network of experienced agents and brokers includes new home specialists, resale specialists and luxury home experts. We can help you with your home buying needs. Homefinders offers discounted 5% listings for Maryland, Northern Virginia home owners. Experienced agents helping buyers and sellers in the Washington Metro area since 1985.

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