So, we're hanging out at the house, and the middle kid starts yelling about a cat got hit by a car down the street that he saw from the window.

I looked out the window with him, and there sure enough was *something* limping it's way across the street. So I walked down, myself, not wanting the kids to scare whatever it was only to find a fairly beefy 14 inch snapper.

I picked him up, and he didn't even put up a fight, which immediately made me worry. Flipping him over, it's looking quite unfortunate. Something either schlong (which doesn't look exactly right if it is) or intestines are hanging out, and looking extremely swollen. The right leg is also a bit unfortunate as well but still moving, so if there is internal damage, hopefully it's not fatal.

I took him up on the deck and hosed off all the mud and gunk, and tried to clean up the back end as best I could. Then stuck him in one of the smaller pond liners filled with saline solution. He seems content to just sit right now. I've got some frozen goldies thawing out, to toss in for him in a bit.

Wow! hope he makes it, lucky for him you where there to help.

Good luck SF! He must have heard the Turtle Whisperer is the place to go with injuries like that

Guess your turtle are spreading the word about where to go for injuries.
Hopes your new snappy pulls through.

That sucks! Good luck with it.

WYite

rawr!

wow no fight when picked up he must have been hurt bad

His back right leg is still not going like I'd want it too. the left leg was pissed off at me checking it out though.

The stuff originally hanging out seems to be all staying back in, and he's still alive, both good things. He even ate one of the thawed fish I gave him.

Hopefully the leg will get better over the next week or two and then I can release him. I do not need another snapper here long term.

Why not another snapper?
Hope the guy heals up. Atleast he is eating.

You're as bad as my kids.

I got one here now that can't be released. They take up a crap ton of room eat like pigs, and can remove a finger if your not careful.

If it turns out he won't make it back in the wild, I'll figure something out then, but I'd much rather he be able to be released.

Good luck, hope you can get him to recover and release him.

How big is the other guy?
I may be as bad as your kids because I am a kid. 13 I am!
He may be able to remove a finger but, thats part of keeping snapping turtles isn't it?
I remember when I found a 30 lb snapper years ago. Scared me to death. It disappeared.

Erm. Yes, they wouldn't be snapping turtles without the snapping part, but I don't really count the potential for losing a finger as a positive.

Speed Bump is about 15 inches. Snappy is half that right now, tho will most likely end up bigger since Snappy is a girl.

[quote="SBL"]...I may be as bad as your kids because I am a kid. 13 I am!...[quote]

LMAO, saint! You're pwned!

WYite

Good news.

Seems like the right back leg issues were from there being a small chunk of asphalt stuck in the leg.

I got it out earlier this afternoon, and I just went out to check on him and he's managed to climb out of the pond and was sitting on the deck in the sun.

Hopefully in a week or two, when the gash heals up he'll be good to go free.