Suwannee River’s Primeval Creature

Throughout the past 33 years I`ve had the privilege of living in and around Levy County, I have never stopped being amazed by the diversity of nature existing here. With the beautiful lands of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuges, the pristine rivers, and 54 miles of Gulf Coast it isn`t any wonder certain species have made their homes in Levy County.

This week proved to be one of the most extraordinary adventures I have ever experienced as I was introduced, (with assistance from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission), to a primeval creature living in the Suwannee River. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, (FWC) has been conducting a study on Macrochelys temminckii or the common name of alligator snapping turtle.

FWC`s catch and release program on this turtle species was to gather data on certain areas of the river, turtle numbers, sex, weight, length, and possible territorial range. Over the past few months Kevin Enge and Travis Thomas of FWC have been placing turtle traps in certain locations along the Suwannee River to study characteristics of the alligator snapping turtle.

As FWC`s boat made its way up-river, the early morning was covered by an extra thick fog that was supposed to have burned off by 10 AM, but this river fog didn`t clear until noon making our boat ride a bit eerie. Trap after trap was checked, (24 traps had been set the day before), and by the end of the afternoon a total of nine alligator snapping turtles had been sized, weighed, numbered and micro-chipped for future studies. Without any harm to the turtles during FWC`s exam and data collection, each one was returned to the same area of the river where it had been extracted. This particular trapping session was very productive with turtles ranging in size from 15 pounds up to a large male weighing over 104 pounds (see photo) and several females weighing 50 to 55 pounds, which is about the maximum size for females.

The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater snapping turtle in the world and lives lurking on the bottom swamps, lakes, and rivers. In Florida, there are two species of snapping turtles with the alligator snapping turtle being the largest of the two species. This turtle rarely ever will be found on land and spends its entire life submerged underwater only coming up for air every 40-50 minutes. They are scavengers and predators, feeding on fish, snakes, carrion and waterfowl.

As many of you know, any day spent on our rivers is an amazing day! To recognize and appreciate that we have these extraordinary and amazing creature living among us is also amazing. Even though alligator snapping turtles are rarely seen, it is nice to know we share the neighborhood with them. My hope would be for these creatures to be around for others to appreciate centuries from now.

Go out and experience Levy County`s beautiful nature, we live in a beautiful wonderland.

See a video of the Alligator Snapping Turtle Trip here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zu7QeW2-yo&feature=em-share_video_user