Oh Snap! 65-Pound Alligator Snapping Turtle Discovered In Virginia
Jun 17, 2020, 11:00 AM | Updated: 11:06 am
NORFOLK, Va. – The boss for the next Super Mario Bros. Game has been discovered in Virginia.
A 65-pound alligator snapping turtle was found trying to cross a road in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Police took the turtle, which has since been named Lord Fairfax, to an animal shelter.
Unlike their common snapping turtle cousins, alligator snappers are not native to Virginia. Authorities said they believe he was released into the wild and perhaps started his life as a pet.
Lord Fairfax is now at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk.
Officials there said they hope the youngster can eventually grow into a healthy adult. Adult alligator snapping turtles, by the way, can weigh more than 200 pounds.
The reptiles aren’t usually aggressive toward humans. However, their powerful jaws can easily bite through bone. People are advised to not pick them up if they find them.