Uninvited guest

This morning I went to let my dogs out, and I swear I see a shadow moving in my pool... a rather large shadow. So I go down to investigate and lo and behold I have an uninvited guest taking a dip in my pool.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...lturtle001.jpg

I did manage to get him to swim into my net, which was only barely big enough for him. I thought I was going to be taking a dip too, just to get him out.

This fellow was rather large, approximately 15 inches (maybe up to 18 inches) or so. He's in a 56 quart box, which is 23 inches long.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...lturtle009.jpg

But wait, it looks like there are some hitchhikers....
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...lturtle011.jpg

GACK! EWWW!!! and NASTY even!!! A leech!!!!!

My skin is now completely crawling. I thought I was doing well to make it through our cub scout camp this week without freaking out about the ticks, especially after our hike through the woods last night. This just has me completely yucked out! :bleh:

Anyway, I got the monster turtle out of my pool and sent him on his way.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k1...lturtle012.jpg

Now there are Leaches in your pool. *shivers*

hahah the little guy wanted to take some laps!

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Now there are Leaches in your pool. *shivers*

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I know!!!!! :tears: I'm not swimming in there until my polaris runs for at least 24 hours, and I shock it again. *shudder*

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Originally Posted by Patrick Long

hahah the little guy wanted to take some laps!

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I guess. He seemed to take a liking to the deep end of the pool. I think he was practicing his scuba diving skillz. :giggle:

I'm amazed it went in with the pool chemicals and stuff!

me and my husband rescued a Northern Wood Turtle from a local road yesterday. Gosh I love turtles!

leeches are :bleh::puke:

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Originally Posted by fishmommy

I'm amazed it went in with the pool chemicals and stuff!

me and my husband rescued a Northern Wood Turtle from a local road yesterday. Gosh I love turtles!

leeches are :bleh::puke:

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We've gotten all sorts of animals in our pool, but no reptiles until now. I've managed to find several box turtles in our area, but this guy makes those guys look like babies.

I've never seen a leech before, but they're tough little suckers. I wasn't even sure it was a leech until one fell off and it started moving. :vomit:

Teenage mutant ninja turtles ........................heros in a half shell..................TURTLE POWER!




i'M A loooWHOzerrr!


:D:D:D:D:D

Let us know if a leach latches on to you next time you swim! And pictures are a must!

Neat pics Christie! Looks like the herps know where to go lol.

Oh and the ticks are horrible this year. We have been fishing in this creek run off from a lake, there are huge bass, and tiger muskie there. So we go often. I found them on myself and my daughter, thank God none of them had burrowed. I HATE ticks they freak me out.

Our friends son has had 3 or 4 on him so far.

They are just everywhere this year. ::shivers:: And deep woods off with Deet doesn't work. You have to use pemethryn (sp??).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reediculous

Teenage mutant ninja turtles ........................heros in a half shell..................TURTLE POWER!




i'M A loooWHOzerrr!


:D:D:D:D:D

Let us know if a leach latches on to you next time you swim! And pictures are a must!

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LMAO!! :8: :8: :8:.I say you should share your pool with the critters EVEN the leeches :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:.

BLECH ON THE LEECH...

Never have I had one on me, but those things creep me out.

Thank goodness they have medicinal properties...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reediculous

Teenage mutant ninja turtles ........................heros in a half shell..................TURTLE POWER!




i'M A loooWHOzerrr!


:D:D:D:D:D

Let us know if a leach latches on to you next time you swim! And pictures are a must!

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But we like you anyway Tyree. ;)

The only way there would be a pic of a leech ON me is if there were enough people to hold me down, plus an extra to use the camera.

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Originally Posted by Kristy

Neat pics Christie! Looks like the herps know where to go lol.

Oh and the ticks are horrible this year. We have been fishing in this creek run off from a lake, there are huge bass, and tiger muskie there. So we go often. I found them on myself and my daughter, thank God none of them had burrowed. I HATE ticks they freak me out.

Our friends son has had 3 or 4 on him so far.

They are just everywhere this year. ::shivers:: And deep woods off with Deet doesn't work. You have to use pemethryn (sp??).

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Yeah, the ticks are terrible here too. I pulled off around 10-12 from the entire family. I'm using the Deep Woods Off with DEET right now, and I haven't found a single one. I'm hoping it stays that way, although the kids get a special bead if they find a tick on them so they're all hoping to find one. BLEH.

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Originally Posted by joepythons

LMAO!! :8: :8: :8:.I say you should share your pool with the critters EVEN the leeches :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:.

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You set that one up, too easy, but I'm feeling too nice to take advantage of it. :wuv: :P

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Originally Posted by LadyOhh

BLECH ON THE LEECH...

Never have I had one on me, but those things creep me out.

Thank goodness they have medicinal properties...

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It was kind of leathery. I expected them to be more delicate, but apparently they're not. :rolleyes:

I still have the willies and have NO desire to go swimming just yet.

Holy crap your grass is pretty and green! Can you send me some?

Oh wait there was a turtle in those pics... :P And EW! I will say that I am not a leech fan either. YUCK-O!

ugh! a leechy pool is better than no pool at all! :D

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Originally Posted by mlededee

Holy crap your grass is pretty and green! Can you send me some?

Oh wait there was a turtle in those pics... :P And EW! I will say that I am not a leech fan either. YUCK-O!

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Yeah, we've had lots of rain so the grass has been growing like crazy. It is pretty. :D

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Originally Posted by python.princess

ugh! a leechy pool is better than no pool at all! :D

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I don't know about that. :bleh:

I pulled one leech off the bottom of the pool this afternoon. I took the nasty thing to the cub scout camp with me, and the boys were absolutely fascinated. I even made it educational by discussing how leeches are used in the medical field to help reattach limbs that have been severed.

Wow that's a big turtle! I thought it was a snapper from the first picture.

I know! I should have held onto the monster turtle and taken it to the cub scout camp, but I didn't think about it. :doh:

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Originally Posted by tigerlily

I pulled one leech off the bottom of the pool this afternoon. I took the nasty thing to the cub scout camp with me, and the boys were absolutely fascinated. I even made it educational by discussing how leeches are used in the medical field to help reattach limbs that have been severed.

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You touched it?!? EWWW!!!! Haha! At least there was some kind of good outcome though. Did they care much about the medical purposes or just enthralled with the cool girl repellent?

Ewwwww...leeches :puke2:

Ok, I will probably not hit the pond this summer on vacation....I know there are occasionally leeches in there..but I've never seen one like that! :O

So I guess that some of the pool chemicals managed to get some of the leeches off him at least.

Nice turtle though :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by python.princess

You touched it?!? EWWW!!!! Haha! At least there was some kind of good outcome though. Did they care much about the medical purposes or just enthralled with the cool girl repellent?

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Yes, yes I did touch it. I scooped it up out of the pool with my net though, then it went straight into a plastic baggie. (freezer kind so the plastic is nice and thick) They were shocked to learn that the leeches had some medical value, but mostly they just wanted to squish it a bit in the baggie. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Schlyne

Ewwwww...leeches :puke2:

Ok, I will probably not hit the pond this summer on vacation....I know there are occasionally leeches in there..but I've never seen one like that! :O

So I guess that some of the pool chemicals managed to get some of the leeches off him at least.

Nice turtle though :)

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I always thought leech were a amazon rainforest kind of thing. :ohmygod: I'm really grossed out that I know they're all around me. EEWWWW!! I'm definitely going to think twice before I get in the local rivers. I didn't realize the leeches could get to the blood supply through the shell either. (things you learn and wish you hadn't :weirdface )

I really enjoyed the turtle. He was pretty impressive, and rarely hid.

My kids were super cool today, running around showing off the leech that completely grossed them out. It was hysterical. :rofl:

You set that one up, too easy, but I'm feeling too nice to take advantage of it. :wuv: :P.[/QUOTE]
Yes i will even come over :P.So no reasons to hold back now :rolleyes: