A mother and her daughter were out fishing on the Mississippi River when they came face to face with a massive creature with massive bear-like claws.
Shala Holm and her daughter Avery were fishing near Brainerd, Minnesota, when they heard breathing and noticed a set of massive claws lurking beneath their kayak.
But, before you get too excited and think we’ve finally discovered some cryptid water monster, the animal has been identified as a snapping turtle, a prehistoric-looking reptile feared for its powerful bite.
“Suddenly, my daughter said,’mom, be quiet, I hear something breathing,’” Shala explained.
“It took a while before we noticed a turtle’s nose swimming toward the kayak.” We could see how big it was as we got closer.
“With his nails, he dove under the kayak and latched himself onto the fishing basket.”
“We were completely taken aback by the size.”
Shala estimated that this one was around 29 inches across.
“People asked if I was afraid, and I must admit at the time I was, which is kind of silly because I am bigger than he was and hopefully smarter,” the 67-year-old added.
“I guess because we were in the kayak so close to him, and I didn’t know how badly he wanted those fish or if he’d try to get into the kayak.”
“I wasn’t sure how I was going to get him out of the basket. I was nervous about grabbing the basket’s handle because I didn’t know how badly he wanted the fish or how aggressive he might be.
“We’ve all heard stories about snappers ripping the handle off a broom stick.”
The pair were able to flee after successfully shaking their basket free.
“We never heard or saw him again until he was clinging to the basket,” Shala explained. My heart was racing, but I managed to grab my phone and take a few photos.
“I couldn’t believe the size of his outstretched legs; his feet were the size of my fist, and then there were those nails!”
“I was worried he’d claw his way to the top of the basket.”
Despite ‘freaking out’ about the creature, they returned the next day to take photos, which Shala sent to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, who informed her that the turtle could be around 15 years old.
Shala said she hopes to see the massive reptile the next time she’s in the area, and given that snapping turtles can live for more than 100 years, there’s a good chance she will.
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