A mother and daughter who were out fishing came face to face with a 'river monster' with massive 'bear-like' claws, leaving them 'freaked out'.?
Shala Holm and her daughter Avery were fishing near Brainerd, Minnesota, when they spotted something lurking in the water near their boat. They heard something breathing and saw a giant set of claws.
The 67-year-old said that they were kayaking when her?daughter told her to be quiet as she heard something breathing.
But before you jump to any conclusions and think we have proof of some unknown water monster, the animal has since been identified as a snapping turtle. The turtle is a species of large freshwater turtle in the family Chelydridae. Its natural range extends from southeastern Canada to the Rocky Mountains' edge, and as far east as Nova Scotia and Florida.?
Shala said that it took a while before they saw the nose of a turtle swimming toward the kayak. As it got closer, they saw how big it was.
It drove under their kayak and latched itself onto the fishing basket with its nails, leaving Shala and her daughter "freaked out about the size.¡±
Shala estimated the turtle was a staggering 29 inches across, demonstrating the sheer size of the reptile.??
She said many people asked if she was afraid during that moment, and Shala admits she definitely was.
Shala said she was jittery as they were so close to the snapping turtle, and she didn't know how badly it wanted the fish or if it would prompt the creature to get into the kayak.
There are two types of snapping turtles. One is the common snapping turtle, while the other is the alligator snapping?turtle. The alligator snapping turtle is also a member of the Chelydridae family.
These turtles have two dark eyes and a mouth shaped like a hooked beak, along with four legs and webbed feet. Each foot of these turtles features five strong claws. The skin of this turtle is covered in rough bumps called tubercles.?
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