Sunday, June 13, 2010

I Brake For Turtles

Driving south on Highway 83 in Nebraska, I am absolutely amazed at the amount of standing water in the Sandhills. I thought that country was wet last year...Yow-za! They are drowning this year and suffering from storm after storm.

I've run into bad weather every time I have made the trip this spring and this time was no exception. I did miss the hail and tornado this time though, even if it was only by a few miles.

So anyway, I'm toodling along and see a hug black spot in the road ahead. I figured it was a 'road alligator', but as I slowed down so as not to flip it under my trailer and possibly wreck one of my own tires, I see it's this guy...

Awwww damn! I hate seeing turtles trying to cross the road. I feel so sorry for them doing their best to get across. Most often its the little Box Turtles. This time it was a big old snapper.

I almost didn't stop.

But a 100 feet up the road was his buddy...

Smashed!

So I pulled over, backed my rig into a handy turn-off and hustled back to give the big guy a lift to the other side. He was none too happy with my interference and once I got up to him, I realized he was too big to pick up. That's my size 8 hoof looking pretty small on his back...

Luckily, there wasn't any traffic at that exact moment and I managed to get him shoved over to the side of the road. Well, actually I gave him a few shoves with my foot to get him moving and that only ticked him off, so then he just chased my foot the rest of the way.

But, I got him headed into the grass...

He was fairly ungrateful about the whole thing, but I felt better. Hopefully, he decides that side of the road is where he wanted to be and stays there. I just hate seeing those big, old turtles squished on the road. At that size, you know he had to be over 50 years old...more likely 70-80 years old.

I can't imagine running over one. Talk about popping a tire.

This little guy startled me when I came out of the bathroom at a convenience store in Sliver Plume. He strolled right into the store, but ran back out the door when he saw me standing there...
At that time the door was propped open, so I told the clerk he had a visitor. He kind of laughed it off, but did come close the door. I'm guessing someone has been feeding him/her because it was not one bit afraid. After the guy shut the door, it just parked itself in front of the door like a dog would and waited.

While the little guy was awfully cute, I always hate to see people feed wild animals like that. It never ends well for the animal.

10 comments:

Mikey said...

Wow, that's some kind of crazy! That snapper was huge!!! God Bless ya for giving a nudge along :)
I just have no words for the last pic. Wow!!

Kristen said...

that was a HUGE turtle! Glad his snapping didn't get ya! I think I would have been pretty shocked to see a fox in a convenience store!

GoLightly said...

Aw, me too. I love turtles.. I can't help it. I braked for a chipmunk today, for goodness sakes. On my deserted road, of course. It would be tricky, dodging wild animals on my busy highways..

I love foxes too. But they tame too easily, so I worry about them too.

Nothing sadder than a "tame" wild animal, scaring heck out of people as he tries to get some food.

Sherry Sikstrom said...

I have never seen a turtle in the wild so to speak, he looks like a big fella . How good of you to help him on his way even though he was an ungrateful cuss! Fox in a mini mart ?Gotta wonder! That seems like it could only end badly. Why do people think its a good idea to tame them?

Unknown said...

Ahaha there was this HUGE turtle on a concession near my house and when I stopped it turtled and hid away. I shoved it back down into the ditch. I would not want to hit that.

Once Upon an Equine said...

Awww, I'm glad you helped that big ole turtle across the road. I used to do the same thing when I lived in Kansas. And I still pick up worms on the sidewalk and put them back in the grass.

City girl turned Country Girl said...

I feel the same way about turtles!! However snappers I tend to shy from LOL!! I've seen how fast they can run LOL!!

WOW seriously that is crazy with the fox! Can't say I've ever heard such a thing!

prashant said...

That snapper was huge!
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The Equestrian Vagabond said...

yay - Turtle Rescue! Now you will have good turtle karma, and who couldn't use that!
- The Equestrian Vagabond

icare said...

I would've pick the snapper up for you, I've done it plenty of times. I stop for animals all the time, I am always looking for them when I drive. That fox is cool, but it's not cool if he is being fed. He should be relocated to a wild area before he becomes to dependant and things end on a bad note.