I Brake For Gopher Turtles! (1 Viewer)

sparroweye

Well-known member

• Jun 15, 2003

• #1

Well, here in Interlachen Lake Estate Florida where Pauloly
and I live we have many Gopher turtle and their nests. They
are endangered because their nests have been destroyed in
many places. Also they have some sort of respiratory disease.
Well, the other day while driving through the estates on my way
home I spied one trying to cross the road. I pulled over and
placed him on the other side on the grass near the lake he
was heading for. I need a t-shirt that says, I brake for turtles.
Anyone else love turtles?

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Jun 17, 2003

• #2

I used to have a whole collection when I was a high school student in Fort Meyers. Had a couple of gophers and...yikes, that was a long time ago-- I've forgotten the names, mud turtles, musk turtles-- I do remember my favorite, though, a Blanding's Turtle. I was going to be a herpetologist in those days.

 

J

Joan & Matt

Well-known member

• Jun 18, 2003

• #3

I stop for turtles, pull over, and carry them across the road. We live in the midst of a wildlife conservation area. Every spring, turtles start crossing the road - to get to the other side, of course - and are run over by the dozens. I stop, pull over, and get them safely across. I even had a wild-life specialist show me how to carry the big snappers (still terrifies me!). I carry leather gloves just for turtle carrying, and anti-bacterial wipes for my hands if I carry one without gloves. For years, my husband (Matt) made merciless fun of me for this. Then, he noticed other people doing the same, and made fun of them, with a little less conviction. Well, there are lots of motorcyclists around here, and frequently during the good weather, a very rough-looking group of bikers passes thru - we've never figured out who they are or where they are going, but you can't miss 'em.
Anyway, one Sunday I was driving down the main road that goes to the x-way, which is forested on either side, when I encountered 6 turtles straggled across the road, and it took all my skill not to hit one. I got to the nearest turn-around and started to go back for them. My husband, who was passenger, started razzing me. Before I pulled out, the mysterious bikers (about 6 of them) turned onto the road, coming the direction I just had. Matt said, "There go your turtles". Well, the bikers saw the turtles, pulled right over to the side, and carried them across the road! I kid you not. I was laughing my head off off, and Matt has never razzed me again.... (J)

 

Tannin

Common; sedentary.

• Jun 18, 2003

• #4

And that, Joan, wins my "story of the week" award! I love it.

 

J

Joan & Matt

Well-known member

• Jun 18, 2003

• #5

Matt just reminded me of another "turtle rescue". Matt was gently teasing me about my turtle-saving ways in front of my cousin-in-law, Dal. Dal is an oral surgeon of very good repute. His eyes lit up at the mention of "turtles", and he told us of finding a HUGE snapper run over by a car with a badly cracked shell but still quite alive. Dal (very bravely, I might add), took it to his office and used, I believe, dental epoxies to repair the shell! He kept the huge snapper in a pen in his back yard until it had healed. The epoxies, or whatever he used, are made to allow for growth of human tissues so they would also grow with the turtles' shell. He said it was all a great success, except that the big old snapper choose to take up residence near his home, and his neighbors are very angry because it keeps killing the ducks and geese at their ponds....

 

steve_nova

Well-known member

• Jun 18, 2003

• #6

.....oh dear.

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Jun 18, 2003

• #7

If I'd found that snapper, 'fraid I would have put it out of its misery and eaten it. Makes delicious soup!

 

J

Joan & Matt

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2003

• #8

That's what they tell me; but they also tell me the big ones are very tough meat and take a day's work to slaughter and butcher. I've heard many a story..... Sounds like Dal had more fun!

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Jun 19, 2003

• #9

How big's a 'big one'? Usually if I caught a snapper with a carapace 30 or 40 cm long, Dad would pre-empt it for soup. Get it to bite onto a broomstick, then pull on the broomstick with his left hand and decapitate the turtle with an axe in his right. Tie it up by the tail to bleed abit and quit dancing, then I think Dad got it shelled and butchered and into the pot in a couple of hours. After I went to university, he'd still ship me a quart jar or two of snapper gumbo from time to time.

 

J

Joan & Matt

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2003

• #10

I didn't see it myself Charles, but it was described as a real grand-daddy, with a shell over 2 feet long, so at least 60 cm, I think? I will have to ask Dal next time I see him.

 

Edward

Umimmak

• Jun 19, 2003

• #11

I can see why you live in Japan, Charles, with an appetite like that. Isn't it true that the Japanese eat anything with four legs except tables and chairs?

E

 

M

MI_Phil

Well-known member

• Jun 19, 2003

• #12

I enjoy the turtle stories and can relate to all of them,I had stopped to assist and photograph a turtle and when I picked it up and looked on its bottomside(plastron?)it had been repaired with a woven materiel and clear epoxy,maybe the work of "Dal the Oral Surgeon". I do have pix of it by the way and will look to see if I can find them and post the image.

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Jun 19, 2003

• #13

No, Edward, that's what the Japanese say about the Chinese!

But while we're on the subject, I might as well admit that I finally tried whale for the first time-- they had whale sushi at my local sushi bar, so I made the leap. Unimpressive, I thought. As you may know the Japanese catch about 400 minke whales per year 'for research'. After the 'research' is finished, the flesh is sold in the fish market and gets a good price. I have a feeling that Icelanders have a soft spot for whale meat, too, eh?

 

Last edited: Jun 19, 2003

M

MI_Phil

Well-known member

• Jun 20, 2003

• #14

Here are a couple of links to 'my gallery' where I have uploaded two Turtle pix that I hope you'll find interesting.

Blanding's Turtle Patched

Snapping Turtle

 

Last edited: Jun 20, 2003

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Jun 20, 2003

• #15

Interesting indeed, Phil. I didn't know they could do that! How big is the snapper?

 

Edward

Umimmak

• Jun 20, 2003

• #16

OK point taken about Chinese/Japanese eating habits. Yes whale meat is occasionally eaten in Iceland although it's not supposed to be legal to sell it. I have tried it (Minke) and thought it was pretty good. These whales are ones that get caught in fishing nets. I have also tried Faroese pickled whale blubber and dried Pilot whale (used to have a Faroese neighbour) both of which are absolutely repulsive. I fear we may have got onto a few people's black lists by admitting this Charles!

Back to turtles, I envy you people who have reptiles and amphibians around you. Iceland is a reptile free zone!

 

M

MI_Phil

Well-known member

• Jun 20, 2003

• #17

Charles,the snapper was about 35cm,measured top shell only and weighed about 5kg.Edward,we could arrange to send alligators and poisonous snakes your way,and by the way there are people here that eat 'gators and rattlesnakes.
There used to be a lubrication additive for automotive use that was made from a by-product of Whale blubber,no longer available here as of late.

 

sparroweye

Well-known member

• Jun 20, 2003

• #18

Yes Ed, I can send you all the poisionous snakes you would like.
We have copperhead, rattlesnakes, pygmy rattler, water moccasin, and coral snake. I was bitten on the instep about eight years ago by a pygmy rattler right in my back yard. They are very aggressive snakes and do not run from you. Of course I was barefoot and stepped on his head. I was lifeflighted to Shands and I met the famed herpetologist there. He said, "No
anti-venum will be necessary." Then he said, "Be glad it was not a coral snake." I have a great respect for snakes now. I wear
boots outdoors now. I have a friendly black racer snake which I protect from my dog. Maybe I can catch some photo's of him. He has even hung from my live oak tree's as I passed under them and scared me to death. I will check this gopher hole that I used to see a gopher turtle in. Maybe I can get a photograph for all.
I would never eat turtle or any reptile meat. Ugh!

 

Y

Yve_M

Colonial Member

• Jun 20, 2003

• #19

Wow what an interesting thread. Great story about the bikers Joan. I would stop and rescue those turtles too, people tease me about rescuing dragonflies from the lake (they eat mosquitoes the good little dears!).

Speaking of sea food, I've never had the pleasure of trying whale but have have had Prairies Oysters.

As for sending some snakes or such, Edward, please come and take the black bear - He's back, this time he tore the screens out of all my windows trying to climb up - nosey bugger.

 

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Jun 20, 2003

• #20

Sparroweye, there you are in the heart of the deep South, and you've never had gator tail or rattlesnake steak? Man, send me a nice fresh timber rattler about 4 or 5 foot long-- broiled, and a pat of butter, mmmm. (Where'd that 'tater thread go? I'm gettin' hongry...)

Now we could hear from the ozzies about crocs, I'll bet...