Chelonian Rescue

[dsrtao]

We had just finished eating dinner and I was sitting back in my chair, enjoying the fresh breeze and the setting sun. I saw movement crossing the street in front of the neighbor's house -- slow movement. At first I assumed it was a cat or dog, or possibly something wild, and in any case injured -- it was agonizingly slow. A car swerved to avoid it.

Then I recognized the silhouette as the long neck craned out - a turtle. Not a normal denizen of our busy suburban street, so there was a bit of a panic as I rushed out to get it.

I approached the turtle openly, walking in along the side of the road, and made my assault.I grabbed along the side of the shell in the middle on both sides, and heaved that sucker up. I think it weighed about 10 pounds. It hissed, then retracted everything and pissed copiously. I had expected this, having dealt with frogs and toads and garden snakes, and so the stream of turtle pee was directed away from me.

I carried it up the driveway, posed for a quick photo, then deposited it in the back yard next to some tasty weeds, not far from the stream. Then everyone else in the family caught up to me, and we spent a while admiring the snapping beak, the sharp claws, the befouled but uninjured tail, and the regular markings of the shell. Z departed and returned armed with a carrot, and we left the turtle to its activities.

Comments

[dlevey.livejournal.com]

That's one heck of a snapper. Try ground beef for food. Then again, put a brown robe and hood/cowl on it and it could be a chelonious monk...

[Ducking and running...]

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

Groan.... But very good.