Don’t worry, the authorities have made it clear that there’s no need to be concerned, even though the monster was spotted and captured on video in the Mississippi River.
If you were only a few feet away from that huge creature in the water, what do you think you would have done?
Keep reading to find out how this lady reacted and why she never expected her story to gain such popularity.
Shala Holm hails from Buffalo, Minnesota. A few months back, she stumbled upon a massive snapping turtle, but it’s only recently that her photo has caught the attention of many.
The turtle is like a real-life Godzilla with its head, and it’s using its massive claws to catch a bunch of fish. Just by looking at the picture, you can tell that this turtle is way bigger than the rest.
During the summer break, Shala and her family decided to have a great time at Niemeyer’s Rugged River Resort near Brainerd. While exploring the area, Shala and her daughter were cruising in a tandem kayak when they first spotted the animal.
Holm recalled how his daughter suddenly told him, “Mom, shh. I can hear something breathing.”
Holm couldn’t believe his eyes when he noticed the turtle making a beeline for the fish basket dangling from their kayak while she looked for something else along the shore.
“He sort of grabbed onto it,” she mentioned. “He was really huge, and we were completely taken aback.”
Holm shook the basket to startle the turtle, prompting it to swim away.
They went back to the spot the next day on their kayak to try and find it once more for a photo. Passing the time by fishing while waiting for the turtle to come back.
Holm mentioned that being in a kayak allows you to be very close to the water, which is the beauty of it. We were definitely quite close.
The mother and daughter were pretty confident that the creature in the water was a snapping turtle, even though they couldn’t determine its exact size. They were certain that its legs were approximately the same size as Holm’s wrists.
Adult snapping turtles usually range in size from 8 to 14 inches long and weigh anywhere between 10 to 35 pounds, as stated by the state Department of Natural Resources. It’s mind-blowing to think that the biggest turtle ever found in Minnesota weighed a whopping 65 pounds!
Shala sent the picture to the DNR for more information. They guessed that the turtle was around 15 to 30 years old.
After the resort owners, Corby and Sheila Niemeyer, made the decision to post Shala’s photo on their Facebook page, it gained immense popularity. The post received thousands of shares and almost a thousand comments, catching the attention of media organizations who reached out to Sheila.
She was like, “Are you serious? Is this actually happening?” And he replied, “Yes, it definitely is.”
The resort owner mentioned that the resort is situated in a peaceful, tranquil area of the Mississippi River, just north of Brainerd. They frequently spot different kinds of wildlife in the vicinity.
She mentioned that in June, we witness a large number of turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. It’s something we absolutely adore, observing these turtles. Therefore, it was quite astonishing to witness such a massive one.
Sheila has made it clear that the water isn’t as dangerous as some Facebook users have suggested.
She mentioned that when you truly observe a lake or river, you will discover unexpected things. They provide solitude and prefer not to be near humans.
She hopes the post’s popularity will attract more guests to their resort.
I hope it’s not something bad because people might think, “Oh no, I won’t go there. I don’t want to swim with that,” she said. “Mostly, you don’t have to worry about that. But seeing the animals is truly incredible.”
The regional nongame wildlife specialist, Erica Hoaglund from the Minnesota DNR, states that snapping turtles are often misunderstood due to their “scary” appearance and defensive behavior when they feel threatened. According to her, they are not dangerous.
In the water, they feel comfortable, but on land, they try to look scarier even though they are vulnerable. They defend themselves when scared, but they avoid fighting.
Hoaglund mentioned that their main goal is to avoid any encounters, and they will quickly hide and run away if they get the opportunity.
Holm, the individual who initially spotted the enormous turtle, has displayed no signs of worry. She even mentioned her plans to revisit the resort in order to meet up with her long-time friend once more.
She mentioned that she would return to that place next year to check if he or she is still there.
Share your thoughts! Are you willing to take a swim in that river? Comment below!