Turtle emergency!

[topaz]

Turtle emergency!, originally uploaded by qwrrty.

Found this guy on the Minuteman in Lexington. Tried to figure out who to call for about 15 minutes without success, until he eventually started lumbering back off the path by himself. Hope he made it!

Comments

[pulito.livejournal.com]

You can always grab a snapper by her thighs to carry him around. Not her tail!--she can reach around and snap you! Or alternatively you can grab her by the back of the shell, but she'll scratch the heck out of you with her rear claws. Better than getting your fingers bit off, though. I usually grab them by the shell, but I don't mind the scratches too much. Shell's easier to reach than the legs if she's all protectively tucked in.

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

You mean the thighs of the front legs? I'm not sure if I would want to try this without plenty of instruction, anyway.

The Lexington police officer I spoke with told me their animal control officer didn't come in until 10am and had no idea who I should call. I suspect that this morning's entertainment down at the station was on me -- the guy who called asking for assistance with a turtle.

[pulito.livejournal.com]

NONO not the front legs. The back legs.

Yikes. :)

[moontoad.livejournal.com]

Like everyone said, it's a snapping turtle. They are stinky because they spend a lot of time resting in the water and they have a nice layer of algae growing on them. Look up your forest preserve or park district, they should have the names of the local wildlife rehab place. Rehabbers are more than happy to move something like that to a more safe area. /former wildlife rehabber

[qwrrty.livejournal.com]

I'll call around in the morning and see if I can find a good general source of information for wildlife preservation like this.

Oh hell, I just realized -- urbpan is probably a good place to start. Well, maybe next time.