Snapping Turtle!

[Scotty]

Ah, you can't do favors for some species. Just kidding guys. Next time take a long stick and push the darned thing off of the road. They can be pretty honery sometimes. I wouldn't pick one up unless it's by the back legs. Little heathens are dangerous.

[wvbreamfisherman]

I've seen a few of the manhole cover sized ones, usually right after a big rain. When I was a kid we cornered one that probably went 20+ lb. It could bite halfway thru a broomstick- would almost certainly take a a finger or toe off if you got it in there.

They are good eating but a humongous PITA to clean.

[Qweetzy]

My nephew was telling me the other day he almost stepped on a female rattlesnake last year. He said he was crossing a fence and had put his foot down when he heard something. He looked down and he said she was looking right at his foot. His buddy passed him a hand gun so he killed it. It was either that or get bit.

[GROUNDpounder]

Originally Posted by oldmangunner

Yeah, once a snapping turtle bites down getting him to let you go is near impossible. Sometimes they really do have to chop the things head off to get it off of you!

but you get to make soup!

[Cappy]

I found an exellent video for those of you who aint never seen a full grown snapping turtle. These
Cajun fellas are hunting these big snappers to move them to water. Before ya diss them, realize they are helping these turtles, and only kept 1 of the smaller ones for meat. Like our ancestors have been doing for centuries.
Digging for Alligator Snapping Turtles - YouTube