Softshell Turtle Close-ups and Video!

[Nanci]

I spotted this big girl while walking my dog at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, Gainesville, Florida. 100 yards from water, on mowed grass, coming back toward the water. 85F, sunny. She had dirt on her back which I thought meant she had laid eggs, but after observing her for about 30 minutes, she appeared to be still looking, doing test digs.

 

[Nanci]

At first she was quite shy, but I laid on my belly a couple feet in front of her and talked to her, and she came out of her shell! This girl is about turkey platter-sized.

 

[Nanci]

As a kid, I would occasionally catch one of these up in Minnesota. I've never been bitten by one, but I've heard they have a very painful bite. (Which could probably be said about all turtles!)

 

[Nanci]

I just love her funny face. She reminds me of Zee, the tri-color hognose.

 

[Nanci]

AFter I was done photographing her, I walked back to the lake shore and sat in the shade to observe her. She made her way quickly across the grass, stopping several times to do test digs. She finally appeard to have chosen a spot on a grassy slope in the sun, about 20 feet from the shore.

Here's a very short video of her walking across the lawn:



Thanks for looking!

 

[Nanci]

I don't know if these are always so portly, but the nearby lake has a section where you can buy food to feed the koi, and of course the softshells do a lot of begging there, too!

 

[ArpeggioAngel]

Great shots Nanci! She is huge and beautiful!! Wish I would've been there for that one.

 

[alan]

Beautiful pics Nanci. The first one is great, it really caught me by surprise.

 

[Tim66/corns]

Great shots Nanci! She is soooo cute.

 

[Hallie]

What strange looking creatures! I can't stop looking at her....

Wonderful shots Nanci. That video is so cute. My goodness she has a long neck!!

 

[diamondlil]

What a beauty! Great thread Nanci, thanks for sharing such a great story and the pictures of her!

 

[Spurticus]

Thanx for the pics and the Video Clip.
Nice looking turtle !

 

[Bobo's Mama]

Awww, her little piggy nose is SO cute! I love how these turtles look. Like soft leathery dinner plates.

 

[ForkedTung]

Cool pics Nanci, You should submit that first one for the summer contest!

 

[CrazyCorn]

Very nice pics I really like softshells. Me and a friend ran across a really nasty tempered one about 3 years ago.

 

[JoannaD]

Very cute. Thanks for posting.

 

[Cflaguy]

Great find Nanci....

Always cool to see a softshell out and about, cool to see mother nature doin her thing.

 

[VickyChaiTea]

That first picture startled me and everyone else I showed it to. XD

 

[Maize411]

Very nice pics Nanci! and loved the video too...Can't wait till I'm down there and I can see some live wild herps :0)