Can you imagine being around a river and bumping into this fella? He's been a legend among the locals for decades, stories of unconfirmed ghastly deeds emerged.
MOUNT CLEMENS, MI — A massive snapping turtle locals have called “Godzilla” for decades has finally been captured in the Clinton River after a group of kayakers witnessed what they described as the creature dragging a baby deer into the water, prompting a response from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The turtle, which officials reportedly believe could be several decades old, was found with a heavily ridged shell, a thick tail and a head that one witness compared to a dinosaur. Stories about Godzilla have circulated along the river for years, with fishermen claiming it was responsible for missing ducks, disappearing muskrats and even several small dogs and cats that wandered too close to the water, although those reports have never been confirmed. “We were just floating along when we saw this thing come out of the woods with a baby deer in its mouth,” said one of the kayakers. “At first I thought it was a log moving in the water, then its head came up and I realized we were looking at something prehistoric. We backed off and called it in.” DNR personnel eventually arrived and spent several hours securing the animal, with one member of the recovery team reportedly describing it as the largest snapping turtle he had ever encountered. “I've handled plenty of big snappers, but this one was something else,” said the man who led the capture. “You look at those jaws and realize you don't want to get anywhere near them. We weren't taking any chances.” Wildlife experts say common snapping turtles are native to Michigan and can live for decades, though the animal's exact age cannot be determined simply by its size. Residents who have followed the Godzilla stories for years are now waiting to learn just how large the turtle actually is, while DNR officials have arranged for it to be transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility for assessment and long-term care away from the public. For now, the stretch of river where the turtle was spotted has become a popular topic among local anglers, several of whom say they plan to find somewhere else to launch their kayaks.