Authorities have reassured the public that there is no reason for panic despite the fact that a massive creature was recently observed and captured on camera in the Mississippi River.
How would you feel if you were only a few feet away from a big beast that was swimming in the water? That is, what would you do?
Keep reading to find out how one woman responded to the situation and the reasons why her story has gained such widespread attention.
When Shala Holm, who is originally from Buffalo, Minnesota, came across a massive snapping turtle a few months ago, her photograph did not become widely shared until just recently.
As the enormous claws of the turtle grip a net of fish, the head of the turtle, which looks like something out of a Godzilla movie, is visible in the photograph. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that this particular turtle is significantly larger than the average turtles that are found in this region.
At the time, Shala was at Niemeyer’s Rugged River Resort, which is located close to Brainerd, spending time with her family. A chance encounter with the enormous turtle occurred while she and her daughter were out on the water in a kayak that was designed for two people.
A moment ago, my daughter uttered the words, “Mom, please be quiet. I hear something breathing,” Shala recalled thinking to herself.
The turtle’s nose was pointing in the direction of a fish basket that was suspended from their kayak, which caused them to be completely taken aback.
Shala explained that the individual had “kind of clawed onto it.” When we saw him, we were taken aback because he was so large.
Shala shook the basket in an attempt to frighten the turtle away, and it ran away as a result.
Shala and her daughter went back to the location the following day in their kayak in an effort to take another picture of the turtle and to observe it once more. They took their time fishing and waiting for something to happen.
The fact that you are so close to the water is one of the many advantages of being in a kayak, according to Shala. “That being said, we were really quite close.”
He was very positive that the turtle was a snapping turtle, with legs that were around the size of Shala’s wrists, despite the fact that they were unable to be certain of the actual size of the turtle.
Adult snapping turtles normally weigh between 10 and 35 pounds and measure between 8 and 14 inches in length, as stated by the information provided by the state Department of Natural Resources. An incredible 65 pounds was the weight of the largest turtle that has ever been discovered in the state of Minnesota.
At the request of the Department of Natural Resources, Shala forwarded the photograph. At the very least, they judged the turtle to be 15 years old, and it may have been as old as 30 years old.
Almost immediately as the owners of the resort uploaded a snapshot of Shala to their Facebook page, the images quickly went viral. As the post received thousands of shares and nearly a thousand comments, the owners of the property, Corby and Sheila Niemeyer, watched as it was shared. We also reached out to them through other media sites.
“The majority of people want to know if this is actually happening.” Sheila pointed out. In all honesty, it is.
The resort is situated in a calm and low-flowing portion of the Mississippi River, which is located to the north of Brainerd. It is in this area that guests frequently observe a wide range of local species.
Sheila mentioned that during the month of June, there are a large number of turtles that appear on the shore to deposit their eggs. It was quite incredible to witness such a large turtle because we enjoy watching turtles so much.
Sheila added that the water is not as deadly as it appears to be, yet some Facebook users have encouraged others to stay away from it.
When she added, “If you really look at any lake or river, you’ll find all kinds of things you never thought of,” she was referring to this phenomenon. “You are left to your own devices. Their want to be in close proximity to you is strong.
As a matter of fact, Sheila is having high hopes that the viral post will bring in a greater number of guests to their resort.
I want to make sure that it does not scare folks away. According to her, “Experiencing the wildlife is truly remarkable.” To a large extent, there is no reason for you to be concerned about everything.
There is a common misconception about snapping turtles, according to Erica Hoaglund, who works as a regional nongame wildlife specialist for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. However, despite their intimidating appearance and the fact that they will defend themselves when they feel attacked, they are not deadly.
In most cases, they will attempt to conceal themselves and go away if they are given the opportunity, as Hoaglund noted. “They prefer the water.” Although they may exhibit defensive behavior on land, where they are more susceptible to being attacked, they do not actively seek out confrontation.
Although she had an interaction, Shala is not concerned about it. To try whether she can see her turtle companion once more, she even intends to go back to the resort the following year.
The following year, Shala plans to return to that location in order to determine whether or not the individual in question is still present.
Would you be willing to swim in the river? Feel free to leave your opinions in the comments section!
