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Post by Ira Runyan on Jun 14, 2019 20:48:34 GMT -5
The Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox) is known for being extremely aggressive and will snap or scratch at anything within reach with their sharp jaws and claws if they are handled or feel threatened. The specific name "ferox" means "ferocious", and they have extremely long necks which can reach around and deliver a nasty bite to a person picking them up. Even small softshell turtles can give a painful bite, bites from large softshell turtles may be very serious.
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Post by frank on Jun 15, 2019 12:02:14 GMT -5
I had no idea ... figured that they are docile critters. Thanks for the warning!!!
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Post by Ira Runyan on Jun 15, 2019 13:05:50 GMT -5
My mother always taught us not by talking, but by showing us by example.
When I was a young child, I along with my brother and sister found a large Florida Softshell Turtle on the dirt road in front of our house, and of course we wanted to play with it. As luck would have it, my mother noticed that we were too close to that turtle to be safe.
My mother did not want to just tell us to stay away from that turtle, for she knew our being kids we would just return to the turtle as soon as she was out of sight. My mother got a broom stick out of the house and came over to where we were watching the Softshell Turtle. She then took that broom stick and waved it near the turtle's head. Naturally, the turtle reached out and bit the broom stick with such force that it broke the broom stick in half. Then my mother warned us not to get too close to a Florida Softshell Turtle. It was a lessen that we never forgot..........
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