Recently, we’ve come across two turtles on our walks. We do see turtles in our pond, but that’s about the only place we do see them.
The first turtle we saw, a couple weeks ago, was a medium-sized snapping turtle. This guy was sitting on the road, next to the curb. Me, wanting to be helpful and get him away from traffic, attempted to pick him up and move him. As a reward, I got snapped at. A second try was met with the same reaction. I left him alone after that. Where was Choppy during all this? I have no idea. The smart money is on “bunny chase”.
The second turtle we’ve seen recently was a small, painted turtle. He was off the road, but not by much. Unlike the snapping turtle, this guy let me pick him up and move him further off the road and away from danger. And, unlike the snapping turtle, Choppy came to investigate this one. She clearly had no idea what to make of a turtle, and much playful looking jumping next to it ensued. After what were probably the sixty most harrowing seconds of his life, I pulled Choppy away from him, and we headed home.
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“The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog.”
– Ambrose Bierce –
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The Walks:
Day 429 (July 2 – Eden Prairie, Minnesota) – Total Mileage: 2.9 Miles (1 Walk)
Day 430 (July 3 – Home) – Total Mileage: 2.1 Miles (1 Walk)
Day 431 (July 4 – Home) – Total Mileage: 2.1 Miles (1 Walk)
Day 432 (July 5 – Home) – Total Mileage: 3.4 Miles (2 Walks)
Day 433 (July 6 – Home) – Total Mileage: 2.1 Miles (1 Walk)
Day 434 (July 7 – Home) – Total Mileage: 2.1 Miles (1 Walk)
Day 435 (July 8 – Home) – Total Mileage: 2.1 Miles (1 Walk)
The Stats:
Weekly Mileage Total: 16.8 Miles (Average: 2.4 Miles/Day)
Year 2 Mileage Total: 181.7 Miles (Average: 2.6 Miles/Day)
Travels with Choppy 
I walk my dog, Chase every day, but we haven’t reached that impressive mileage. I usually get tired before him. Good thing you avoided the snapping turtle. I almost got bit once. It was amazing how much it could twist it’s neck to try to get me.
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It took us a while to work up to this – we did a mile for a while, now it’s up to where it is. I also have to wake up at a very early hour to have time to get the long walk in. For a long time, that was the hardest part of the walking!
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Those snappers need to be picked up by their back plate and have your arms out, like a touchdown, not bent in 90° as they can twist. I’ve only done this once and luckily was successful in not getting snapped!
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He had disappeared by the next day, so I am going to go with he managed to find his way back to the pond. I think I’ll leave the snappers to the professionals!
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The snapping turtle took his namesake a little bit too seriously. Glad all of you, the painted turtle and Choppy survived.
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As am I – and I’m happy to have all fingers and toes intact!
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Fingers and toes are good accessories for uprights. 😉
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How else are we supposed to open all the food for the four-leggeds?
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Well thanks for trying to save the turtles.
You’re putting up some good miles!
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The miles really are adding up – I’m mostly impressed by the overall miles, especially because it’s only two and a half months worth of walking. Come January, it’s not going to look anywhere near as good.
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Nice shot of Chops in the pond, turtles on the road seems weird.
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I’ve seen turtles on bike paths, on driveways, etc. Not often, but it happens. We’re actually told to move them off of the road if we see them, so they don’t get hit.
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I saw a turtle this morning tying to cross the street. It was thankfully not attempting the four lane divided road I was on, but instead just hoping to scoot from one side of the side street to the other. I would have gladly pulled over to help but alas, rush hour commuters can get a might cranky, lol. Much like your afore mentioned snapper. Good grief that thing looks huge.
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He was plenty big – and I’ve seen much bigger ones around!
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Most likely a female Snapper, going to a place or coming from the place of laying her eggs. They do have a very stretchy, long neck & powerful bite. 🙈 Same with the Painted Turtle…egg laying time. If you ever see a turtle on the road, you can use a towel. If possible, put flashers on, stop and help the turtle go to the direction it’s headed. People really should be patient, helping wildlife is important!
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And at least with the Painted Turtles, they have always seemed, if not sweet, pretty docile.
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Glad you managed to get at least one turtle to safety. 🙂
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The other one had disappeared by the next day – I’m guessing he got wherever he was (slowly and crankily) heading.
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I am totally impressed the walking continues – great job Sarah & Choppy. 🙂
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Thanks! It’s definitely a nice time of the year for walking around here – we don’t have the extreme heat that so many others do.
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That is a really ugly and big turtle.
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It didn’t help that it was partially covered in mud, either.
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Wow! You’re brave. Don’t think I’d try to pick up a snapping turtle. We saw one recently.
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I didn’t try for very long!
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nice thought trying to save turtle.
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Thanks! The one I couldn’t move wasn’t there the next day, so I’m thinking he got wherever he was headed on his own. It was not a very busy street he was on.
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Exactly !
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Shame, well at least you tried with the snapping turtle, and glad the other turtle was more friendly. So how was that wet dog hug? You and Choppy are doing great with the walks. Well done 🙂
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I know how to avoid them well – now, the dog shaking post-pond? I haven’t learned to avoid that yet.
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I’m sure that turtle happily snapped away at any car approaching it – and go out as the winner from that fight! 😂
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I’m sure! Thankfully, he was on a very little used road (so little used I let Choppy off of her leash as we walk it, because the few cars who use it go very, very slowly).
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That’s good to know!
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Egg season for turtles – I always stop if possible to aid them in the direction they are going, too. Nothing more heartbreaking than seeing these poor slowpokes get hit.
Wet dog – what a lovely scent!
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Our DNR actually tells us to help them across the road or trails if we see them and can do so safely. I am happy to help when I can!
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Good cardio work out for Choppy and you! Admirable and cheers to good heart health! ☺
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That’s for sure!
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Love this journey! Walking is a favorite activity of mine. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you for reading – we do love our walks around here!
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Great job at keeping up the walks. You are lucky that you didn’t get bitten by the snapping turtle. Those guys are mean! We have a saying around here that if they bite you, they won’t let go until it thunders. So, if no storm is on the way, you’re in big trouble. LOL I always steer clear of them, but do help the box turtles that I come across.
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We don’t see many box turtles – mostly painted turtles when we see the little guys. And I am going to hope Choppy heeds the warning about staying away from snapping turtles – she does like investigating those thing she comes across.
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