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Columns: Stormceptors - What’s the big deal anyway?
September 29th, 2012

Columns: A FLORIDA CRACKER TALE - "A Trip to Fort Basinger"
September 29th, 2012

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September 28th, 2012

Columns: ASK A LAWYER - CAN I CARRY A GUN WHEN I DRIVE TO OTHER STATES?
September 25th, 2012

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September 17th, 2012

Columns: Trouble in Cedar Key - Autumnal equinox: Period of Great Change
September 16th, 2012

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September 4th, 2012

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September 2nd, 2012

Columns: "Free At Last" - A Florida Cracker Tale
September 1st, 2012

Columns: Trouble in Cedar Key - "Wayne"
August 23rd, 2012

Columns: Donna Gail and the Big Black Calf - A Florida Cracker Tale
August 23rd, 2012

Columns: North Florida – Wild Florida: Shearing the Sheep
August 20th, 2012

Columns: ASK A LAWYER - A FOUR INCH KNIFE IS A CONCEALED WEAPON
August 17th, 2012

Columns: Trouble in Cedar Key - Critter Huntin’
August 6th, 2012

Columns: Shootout at Ocklawaha - A Florida Cracker Tale
August 5th, 2012

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Andy Bair - Hotelier? Or Snapping Turtle Handler?

Andy Bair - Hotelier? Or Snapping Turtle Handler?

Ada Lang

The man who appears to be the mild-mannered Island Hotel owner, by night, was recently out on the Suwannee River with FWC staff as they monitored traps set to capture snapping turtles.
The turtles are fresh-water creatures and the reasearch took place several miles north of Fowler`s Bluff. Mesh traps are baited with smelly fish chum and the turtles swim in to have a snack but can`t swim back out. This monster weighed about 100 pounds and according to Bair, "his head was as big as a football and he had bear claws!"

He went on to say that this variety of snapping turtle is different from your garden-variety, pond-dwelling snapping turtles because these do not have the long flexible neck that allows them to reach around and take off a finger or two. Not that this big guy didn`t try.


Normally FWC traps and releases about 6 moderate-sized snappers on any given visit to the traps, but this trip, this giant male was the only one they found. After tagging and documenting data, the animals are released back into the water.

Bair added that apparently, these snappers like to submerge themselves underwater and wait around with their mouths open for unsuspecting fish to swim by. They have a "worm-like" piece of skin that hangs out their mouths --- well, like a worm --- and judging by the size of this turtle, they are quite successful hunters.

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