Dangerous Alligator Snapping Turtle Discovered in Cumbria

Following several sightings, the freshwater reptile was rescued from beside Urswick Tarn by local parish councillor Denise Chamberlain. She placed the animal in a shopping basket and took it to a vet for care.

Dr. Dom Moule expressed his surprise when Ms. Chamberlain brought the turtle in, expecting it to be a loggerhead turtle or a terrapin, not an alligator snapping turtle. He believes it was likely abandoned by an exotic pet owner who underestimated the challenges of caring for it.

As per Dangerous Alligator Snapping Turtle Discovered in Cumbria, Though the turtle’s gender remains undetermined due to its small size, the vets have nicknamed it “Fluffy” due to its seemingly cute appearance. While many have offered to adopt Fluffy, the decision has been made to transfer the reptile to a specialized wildlife center in Cornwall.

Ms. Chamberlain encourages exotic pet owners struggling with care responsibilities to reach out to organizations like the RSPCA. She commended the staff at Wild Side Vets in Barrow as “heroes” for handling the turtle.

Alligator snapping turtles, considered invasive, possess powerful jaws that can easily bite through bone and have been known to sever human fingers. These hunters typically consume fish, frogs, small mammals, and even other turtles, growing up to 100cm in length and weighing up to 90kg.

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