Wolfy's dramatic roadway rescue!

[SlitherinSisters]

NOw all I can think of is...is It legal to own snapping turtles?

In Iowa it's not. I'm not sure if it's the same in most states but I'm guessing so. They are considered a dangerous wild animal here, but it's easy to get a exhibitor/gamer license.

Great story! I couldn't say that I would have done it! Snappers are terrifying!

[Seru1]

In Iowa it's not. I'm not sure if it's the same in most states but I'm guessing so. They are considered a dangerous wild animal here, but it's easy to get a exhibitor/gamer license.

Great story! I couldn't say that I would have done it! Snappers are terrifying!

I love snappers and it was awesome. I think some people keep them in the pet trade. I saw a caresheet on one...gotta say I'm considering it after reading about them.

[mommanessy247]

good rescuing jobs you guys. wouldnt want them to have gotten hurt or worse. we end up with alot of roadkill out here, people just dont stop to let animals cross the roads. its quite sad actually.

[BOWSER11788]

seru, back before i has a big herp, keeper i had a snapper,it was a babbie, bought in all places, West Virginia, keep it till it started gettiing huge, my advice is filtration flitation filtration, he eventually got to big and has been given to a friend he made a 6x6x6 pool for him with a pool filter type thing fo filtration and a small basking spot on the side. is an aswsome animal to a very VERY dedicated person

[Ginevive]

Hehe! It was the thought that counted, I say. We have road alligators everywhere here (tires that've popped and shredded off big rigs) lol

[mrmertz]

LOL...somebody with a sense of humor like me! Very funny, good goin'! I also know the feeling of mistaking road debri for a snake. Lot's of time we'll double-back even if it is road kill to I.D. the snake, and quite a few times it is road debri.

[exiled reptile]

frickin hillarious here in missouri we have all the mentioned species. but the most numerous by far would have to be the road gator.

[GoBoilers]

My favorite snapping turtle story: My Dad lived in Indiana several years ago and was taking the back roads back to his house. Anyhoo, he suddenly finds himself stuck behind several cars completely stopped in the middle of the road...apparently, a snapping turtle had decided asphalt made a pretty good napping medium. So several folks had gotten out of their cars to "assess the situation." Mind you, this area of Indiana is about 40 minutes east of Chicago, so they've got their share of quasi-educated folks who commute into the city but choose to live in Indiana. So here are a few folks with their MBAs trying to figure out how to move a snapping turtle (unsuccessfully). Finally, one of the local Joes rides up on his tractor to see what was going on. He took one look at the turtle, grabbed a large stick, let the turtle bite the stick, grabbed the turtle's tail, and swiftly moved him to the side of the road. Guess they don't teach you how to move a snapping turtle in law school...

[bsash]

Hey aren't the people in new jersey wild enough?

Your braver than me I'll take a snapping turtle over a big northern city anyday.

Still yeah it was a good day, that and learning my favorite kitty cat was healthy after a little scare she gave me.

Yeah, I guess some can be, especially if you want to talk about they way some of them drive, ha ha.

I found a baby snapper turtle once, when I was like five. My mom freaked out and took me down to the creek to release him/ her. Although, back then, I had no idea they got so big, or the strength they had.

[MarkS]

I was just telling someone before I left work that nothing of note has happened to me lately.

Yeah, I should have kept my mouth shut. On my drive home, I was tooling along on 207 at a 'good clip' which translates to about 73 mph. I suddenly spot a poor confused snake in the center of the road. Now.. this is a divided 4 lane highway(2 lanes each direction with a wide median), so it's on the yellow line between the fast and slow lanes. It's gonna die. I mean, there's no way this poor snake will ever make it the rest of the way without help!

It's Super Wolfy to the rescue!! Yes! Faster than some elderly turtles, able to leap to conclusions in a single bound, I jump into action! I pulled over immediately, and grabbed my handy snake hook from behind the truck seat.

What? You don't carry snake capturing equipment in your vehicle as a matter of routine? Tcch tchh. But I digress...

As I'm grabbing my hook and getting out and looking at traffic, part of my astute brain is identifying the snake from the brief glimpse I got as I passed it. I'm pretty certain it's a water snake, non-venomous but feisty, but it could be a water moccasin or even a dark rattler, perhaps a pregnant black racer..

I check traffic, and wave at a oncoming truck to move to the fast lane so I can trot out to capture the snake which hasn't moved. I'm hoping it's not already injured, but certain it seemed lively when I passed it. As I get out into the road I move up carefully, completely aware that it could be a venomous(and ticced off) snake, and I do NOT want to get bitten.

The truck that moved to the fast lane for me passes and I can concentrate on the snake and I immediately realize that this is the VERY rare Northern Tattered Cable. Now, Tattered Cables are fairly common on most roadways, being found throughout the United States anywhere that vehicles travel. But Northern Tattered Cables are not so common and so I was indeed lucky to happen on one, not only in the open road, but in peril so I was able to assist it!

I cursed rather loudly and creatively in order to soothe the Cable as I expertly tailed it and lifted it's length on the snake hook. Moving it carefully across the roadway, I placed it into the ditch where it can live out it's days in happiness and safety.

Note: Although Tattered Cables of all localities are non-venomous, they have been known to draw blood, so careful handling is always advised!! Also, please note that at no point should anyone endanger themselves or other drivers/passengers in cars by 'darting' into traffic to assist any creature. Please be safe when attempting rescues!!

At any rate, I did rather wish I'd gotten a picture of the lovely creature, but I'll have to be content with my memories of such a exciting and successful rescue!

LOL, that's a great story. many is the time I've pulled over to the side of the road to rescue the common Bungius cordi even though they're far from endangered. It gives me a certain feeling in the pit of my stomach every time I pull over for one. That's a good tip on the creative cursing, it does seem to sooth them as I've never had one strike at me yet.