Not Exactly The Plan

   As usual, Mark and I headed to the pier just about daylight.  We had high hopes of catching a few fish for our lunch and to also use as crab bait.  That was the plan...it just did not happen.  He was throwing the net to catch menhaden or little mullet to use as bait when, all of a sudden, that net was about wrenched from his hands!  Whoa!  He had something huge!  As he lugged the thing to the pier, we both had to grimace.  Ugh!  His net had gone over an enormous snapping turtle.  That old fellow was in one foul mood after being ensnared which made it tricky business to untangle him.  While Mark held the net taught to keep the turtle from getting even more tangled, I used the scoop net handle to free the critter.  Once that was done, the turtle made a hasty retreat back into the water. I was in no mood to mess with him any more!  It was then that we noticed the huge hole in the net.  Well...that was not a happy thing.

  Mark got the net from the small skiff and started throwing again.  Whomp!  Yep, he had thrown the net right over something huge again!  This time, there was a lot more splashing going on as he pulled on the rope.  Reaching down, he hauled a huge Black Drumfish onto the pier.  Ugh...again.  We surely did not need THAT much fish!  The fish, like the turtle, was untangled and released.  Also...again...another huge hole was to be found in the net.  Again...not a happy thing.

  It seemed as if fish were not to be on the menu today nor were the crab traps going to be baited.  We may have started out with grand intentions but things did not play out in our favor.  It was time to head back to the Little Bayou House to mend nets and figure out just what to cook for the day.

Not So Friendly Critter

   If there is one thing the Bayou has it is plenty of mud.  Not "pretty" mudpuddle mud but stinky, slippery, staining, mucky mud.  People often ask me if I ever swim in the waters here and that is met with a huge "No!" but that is not just because of the mud.  It is what hides in that mud and murky waters.  Aside from the alligators and cottonmouths, there are the snapping turtles.  Usually, gators and snakes are relatively easy to see but those turtles blend so remarkably well with the mud that it would only take one misstep before you would receive a nasty bite.

Yesterday, I was on the pier and noticed what seemed to be just another mound of mud in the shallows.  Sometimes, the otters slide around enough that mud will mound up in piles.  Seeing the mound, I had an inkling that this was not mud but a turtle and, sure enough, when I got closer, I could see the outline of its head beneath the water.  Yep, there was that old snapping turtle stalking bull minnows.

  I sat on the pier a short distance from the turtle and watched.  After a bit, the turtle started moving around.  Its head came out of the water and I was able to photograph our grouchy critter.  Snapping turtles are known to not be the friendliest of critters so I kept my distance.  The turtle soon moved on through the marsh in search of more breakfast.  The "mud mound" was gone!

Lurking In the Mire!

  I have always been told not to go traipsing about in the marshes or on the mudflats.  Traversing the mudflats is impossible so that should go without saying.  By the second step, you are up to your neck in the soft mud and it is nigh on impossible to get out.  The mud here is not much different than what I imagine quicksand is.  You sink and the more you struggle, the deeper you go.  Wiggling only makes things worse.  As for gallivanting about the marsh, commonsense tells you that is not a wise choice...at least, not in the summertime.  It is relatively safe in the winter as the critters are either snoozing or sluggish.  Stepping on a cottonmouth or snapping turtle or stumbling in the path of a gator is not fun.

  The other day, I headed to the pier to bring a pail to Mark.  He was cleaning some fish and needed to tote them up to the house.  When I passed the mudflats, there was just enough water to allow for the little mullet to swim happily about the place.  A slight movement told me that something else was lurking in that mire.  That slight movement was enough to scare the school of mullet into a frenzy.  Something fierce must be under that murky water!

  The water in the Bay and Bayou is known to be muddy making viewing anything beneath the surface just about impossible.  I peered through the turbid water.  Something was there, I just knew it.  It took a few moments for the mud to settle and my eyes to adjust.  Yep, there was a clawed foot!  A snapping turtle was hiding beneath the surface!  The predator was feeding on the mullet and bull minnows that were trapped in the small inlet.  That predator would not hesitate to give a nasty bite to anything or anyone who treads in its territory.  I think I will stay on the pier for now!

 

Mr. Stinky

  While I am one of those folks that believe in the mantra of "Live and let live.", there are a few critters that I am just as happy to "let live" away from me.  There are a couple of denizens of the marsh that had just better stay in the marsh.  I do not want them to come visiting the Little Bayou House.  I am perfectly happy sitting on the pier conversing with them while they do their thing on the mudflats or in the marsh or in the water but that is as far as it goes.

 One of these fine friends is the snapping turtle.  I have no desire to get "up close and personal" with one of those critters!  Besides the obvious fear of losing a finger to one, the critters smell bad.  I fully understand this is not their fault because, after all, they remain mud-covered most of their lives but the stench is so bad that I can usually smell one long before seeing it.  

  Yesterday morning at dawn, I had the opportunity to slip to the pier.  The old dog was just not up to an early morning hike so there was no lumbering animal following me.  That old dog makes enough noise to wake the dead allowing any wild critters plenty of time to hide before we even get to the pier.  The little alone time was welcome.  As soon as I stepped on the first plank of the pier, I knew a snapping turtle was in the area.  The heavy, musty smell of mud was wafting on the gentle breeze.  I froze in my tracks and scanned to darkened corners of the little area of shallows.  Nothing moved.  I knew it was there but could not find it.  After a few moments of my eyes adjusting to the dim light, I spotted the turtle.  Yep!  There was a nice sized snapper!

  The turtle had come to the small pool in the marsh to feed upon the minnows that had been trapped overnight.  It was surprising to see how adept the big lug of a turtle was at catching the small minnows.  The turtle would simply lie in wait for the minnows to gather then strike out at the group.  Almost every strike saw the turtle with a mouth full of the little fish.  

  Although, I thoroughly enjoyed my few minutes watching the turtle, I still have no wish to become friends.  Mere acquaintances is good enough for me.  The turtle can stay in the marsh and I can keep my fingers intact!  Happy fishing, Mr. Stinky!

Another Great Day of Fishing....Not!

  My friend, Darlene, returned to the Bayou for yet another day of fishing.  Being a teacher, she was on Spring Break this past week and wanted as much "Fishing Therapy" as she could get. We have been doing relatively well and have caught a good many red drums, trout and croakers.  Of course, we caught our fair share of gafftopsails, catfish and other "trash" fish.  We never complain, though, since we both love to fish and it sure beats staining flooring boards.  She and I can sit for hours with a rod and reel in hand.

  Today, our fishing experience was just that...an experience.  First, the weather did not cooperate.  It was heavily overcast and COLD!!  The north wind proved to be quite icy over the water.  Then, we had a bird steal our bait.  The juvenile Great Blue Heron that has been begging handouts has taken to stealing as of late.  While we were not watching, that rascal emptied our bait bucket of all the little, live mullet except for one tiny one.  There is not much fishing going to happen without bait! I had to throw the net to catch more bait which was quite scarce due to the inclement weather.  I did, however, replenish our stash but nary a fish bit.  We did, however, make a couple of catches.

  About mid afternoon, Darlene said she had a "bite".  Sure enough, her line was being pulled out from the reel.  She jerked back only to say that it was weird.  Yep, a great description.  Instead of a bite, she had something rather different.  A snapping turtle had become tangled in her line.  It took a bit of doing but we finally got the critter untangled without losing a finger in the process.  My catch was just as bad, if not worse.  I really did catch a snapping turtle. That goofy critter ate my mullet...hook and all!  Reeling in a huge snapping turtle is not the easiest thing to do.  Those things weigh a ton!  It felt like I was hauling in a log.  

  The hook was actually embedded in the turtle's tongue but there was no way that I was going to stick my hands in that mouth to unhook it.  Knowing that we use a style of hook that is fast-rusting, I cut the line.  The large turtle slid back into the water.  I am sure that he will have a sore mouth for a few days but, after that, he should be fine.  He just needs to learn to stay away from my fishing line!  Oh, the things that we catch here on the Bayou!

Yeah, I'm Watching You

  Early this afternoon, I headed to the pier to check the crab traps.  Lately, we cannot seem to catch crabs since the are several other denizens of the Bayou that wish to eat our bait.  The otters go into the trap, undo the bait boxes and then steal the bait.  Other than being a thief, they are just considered to be a nuisance.  Alligators rip the entire crab trap to pieces, steal the bait then eat the crabs as well.  Then there are the snapping turtles.  Those rascals tear open the traps, bend the wire in a thousand directions, steal the bait and then have the nerve to sit on top of the smashed up trap as if to say "Hey, I did a good job!"  Nope, you did terrible!

  As I stepped onto the pier, a blotch of green under the water caught my eye.  An algae covered snapping turtle was stalking the bull minnows that were swimming about in the shallows.  It stayed motionless inches beneath the water's surface.  The minnows either are not too smart or have very short memories because just a few minutes after the turtle would snap up a minnow, the remainder of the school would come right back to the same spot.  SNAP!  The turtle had another tidbit.

  I watched the turtle for a good while as it fished.  The turtle saw me but made no effort to retreat beneath the mud. It was on a mission and was not going to give up quickly.  The turtle did, however, poke its head above water to eye me for a couple of minutes.  Then, it slowly sank back beneath the surface to continue its fishing.  At least this turtle is not bothering my crab traps!

Treading on Dangerous Mud!

  With the lack of a winter and the sudden onset of springlike weather, the critters of the Bayou stand in a state of confusion.  Birds are nesting, frogs and toads are beginning their nightly serenading and those snapping turtles are creepy-crawling about the mudflats.  It is those snapping turtles that gave me a cause to ponder this morning.  Knowing that the turtles can flat out disappear under the soft mud whenever they choose, it is a wonder that more of the docile critters are not injured.  

  Today, a lone Great Egret fished along the marsh edge.  It was wading in just a few inches of water and would occasionally step up onto the mudflats.  In the water, it would shuffle its feet hoping to stir up some tiny minnow or crab.  Then the bird would make a quick snatch and have a bit of breakfast.  Those long spindly legs gave me worry, though.  As the egret made its way up on the mudflat where one particularly large snapping turtle had been seen earlier, I fretted over those legs.  Let one misstep occur and that turtle might have broken a leg in two pieces. Thankfully, that did not happen...at least while I was watching.

  Pondering further, I had the realization that a tradedy of this sort may have been what befell our dear, old friend, Skipper Hopper.  Two years ago, we befriended and helped a Great Blue Heron that was severely injured. Its ankle had been broken and, now, I am about certain that a snapping turtle might have been the culprit that did the foul deed.  In all likelyhood, the bird probably tread a bit too close to a submerged snapping turtle and the turtle did not take too kindly to the intrusion. One quick clamp of those powerful jaws could surely have inflicted the injury that the poor bird suffered.  

  As I sat watching the egret, my mind wandered back to Skipper Hopper. The egret was so engrossed in its feeding that I am positive that it was not thinking about the dangers that could lurk beneath the very mud where it was walking.  Life is not easy for the critters of the Bayou.  

I'm Outta Here!

  Sometimes friends are not so friendly...especially when they are of the critter kind.  Occasionally, the critters just do not want to play nicely!  It is those that I tend to leave to their own territory and I do not tread there.  In the Bayou, there are several of these "friends" that seem to be a bit more of fiends than friends.  They are just downright grouchy!

  This afternoon, I was busy in the yard once again.  The entire place is getting a "makeover" and it is quite the ordeal.  It seems that all of the gardens need to be uprooted and either replanted or just kept empty. The work is tedious but I enjoy it as it gives me time to think.  While digging out bulbs on the west side of the house, I noticed something on the mudflats down by the pier.  The Bayou is full of critters that are out and about enjoying the springlike weather.  Love is in the air for a lot of them.  Too bad that "love" does not lighten their mood!  The critter that I noticed on the mudflats was a snapping turtle. She was not a huge one but rather a nice medium sized one.  She was searching for a snack and thought the flats might have trapped a few minnows.  I eased down to photograph the little lady as she busied herself with the minnows.  While my attention was focused on her, another critter made its way onto the flats.  A much larger turtle sludged through the mud and was heading to the same spot where the smaller turtle was feeding.  

  The large snapping turtle stopped in its tracks when it finally noticed me.  It was not but a few feet from my perch on the pier and, had I been lower, might have been a threat to me.  Since the pier sits high above the marsh, I was safe from those powerful jaws!  They are not called snapping turtles for nothing!  Besides being tremendously strong with jaws that can rip through flesh, these guys have knife like claws that can be just as damaging.  Plus...they are notoriously cranky and will not hesitate to bite or scratch.  They are best left alone and watched from a distance!

 After about twenty minutes of our stare down, the bright sunshine was drying the turtle a bit and probably making it quite uncomfortable.  I made a sudden movement to swat a gnat and the turtle dove under the soft mud.  Its powerful legs and claws had it completely submerged within ten seconds.  I could not see one part of the very large turtle. That this huge snapping turtle could slide all the way beneath the mud in just a matter of seconds makes it clear that no one should be traipsing about the marshes!  A snapping turtle can latch onto a foot or hand and do some major damage!  While I still consider the snapping turtles as friends of the Bayou,  I will let these cranky critters have plenty of space!        

More than I bargained for!

  This afternoon, Mark and I headed to the pier.  We had no specific reason other than just to be there but after getting to the end of the pier, it only seemed proper to throw the net at least a couple of times.  He picked up the large net and I grabbed the shorter one.  Not wanting to throw in the same vicinity of each other, I walked up the pier a bit.  If there were any mullet nearby, he could catch them easier in the larger net.  I was more or less wasting time with the little net.  Still, it is fun and good exercise.  

  My first throw with the small (5ft) net yielded a huge catch!  As soon as I started to bag the net and haul it back in to the pier, I knew I had caught something.  Nets just do not weigh THAT much!  I was actually struggling to pull the net toward me!  Hmm?  I called to Mark.  "I either caught a bunch or something huge!"  Nope, I did not catch boatloads of fish but rather one quite large snapping turtle!  I threw that net right over top of the critter!

  I hauled the net up on the pier where Mark and I pondered just what we were supposed to do with this monster!  As we stood staring at him, he started tearing at the net.  That webbing was going to be no match for his sharp claws and powerful jaws.  If we did not do something quick, my net was going to be history!  Mark hurried to get my camera (of all times for me to not bring it!) while I slammed a bucket over the snapping turtle.  Well, duh!  That did not work!  The turtle was larger than the bucket!  After knocking the bucket to its side, the turtle proceeded to rip the net.  NO!!!  I slammed the bucket atop the turtle once more and this time sat on it!  There!  Now lets just see who is stronger!  Yeah, well, hate to say it but the turtle actually started carrying me as it worked its way to the edge of the pier.  Nope!  You are not taking my net with you!!!  I turned and started pressing down as hard as I could.  I guess the critter stopped to size up his situation because he sat still long enough for Mark to get back to the pier.  Whew!  

  It took a good ten minutes to untangle that snapping, clawing critter from my net.  I am sure glad that Mark was there!  He had no problem flipping that fellow upside down and holding onto his tail! Mark is my hero!!!   Me?  Nope, no way, not happening!  I tried to be helpful by distracting the turtle with a piece of cane pole and that sucker grabbed ahold to that thing and cracked it! (Mark was smart and used a board to push the net away.) After seeing what the turtle did to that pole,  I decided right then and there that I was rather fond of my fingers!

 

Whatever Works

  Down near the pier, there is a little area where the marsh was wallowed out by a tractor that became mired years ago.  The folks who put in the posts for the pier obviously were not too familiar with their machine and did a grand job of getting it stuck.  While this was both humorous and aggravating for me at the time, I must admit that this hole has become a favorite place for photography.  

  Critters love the mudflats and tidepools that were left behind.  The other day, I was trying to get a picture of a cottonmouth moccasin that was slithering through the mud but once he saw me, he made a quick retreat into the marsh.  I thought this was a tad strange since usually the snakes are not intimidated by a mere human especially one only armed with a camera.  I sat still long after he disappeared and finally realized that there was another reason besides me that the small snake made his hasty getaway.  The snake had been making its way through a small canal that had washed through the marsh.  This is now a favorite passageway for many critters as it leads from one section of the Bayou right to this little pool.  Everyone seems to want to dine on the fat bull minnows that frequent the pool.  The snake was no different from any of the rest.  As I sat there waiting, a head popped up from the middle of the passageway.  Ahhh, a large snapping turtle had buried itself under the mud right in the midst of the canal.  There, it had the perfect vantage point to catch anything that dared to wander in its path.  The turtle would have made short work of the snake.

  While I was photographing the turtle's snout, a bit of color caught my eye.  It is a rare thing to see color on the drab gray of the mud.  That had to be something of interest!  Sure enough, a damselfly had come to visit.  The brightest green and blue adorned this slim figure of an insect.  Damselflies are in the same family as dragonflies and do a lot of the same things.  These, too, eat a lot of other insects so are a good thing to have around the Bayou.  My interest left the beast of a snapping turtle and turned to the beauty of a damselfly.  

   I got to thinking about how the turtle used its drab coloring to aid in its quest for dinner.  The color perfectly matched to color of the mud. As it sat waiting for something to cross its path, it blended well with its environment.  The camouflage was perfect.  Then there was this bright damselfly.  Its coloring did just the opposite. It made the insect stand out against the drab background.  No camouflage was needed as the damselfly, like its cousin the dragonfly, depends on speed and agility to catch its prey.  It is this way with many of the critters that call the Bayou home. Some blend well with their surroundings and depend on secrecy and cunning while others stand out and rely on their wit and speed. When it comes down to brass tacks, it is all about survival.  Whatever works...whatever works.

With One's Nose Stuck Up in the Air!

I can remember once in a great while hearing how someone had their nose stuck up in the air.  Usually this phrase was mentioned about one certain distant cousin of mine who thought she was "high and mighty".  Not that she was any better than the rest of us but she would let us know that she indeed was among the elite!  She had "married into money" and was a tad uppity. From all reports, her ideal, wealthy husband owned numerous businesses in New York and they "jet-setted" all across the world.  The phrase was most likely uttered at some family reunion type get-together that she refused to attend because, well, we were just not cultured enough for someone of her status.  Years later, word got out that all was not perfect in her Utopian world but her pride would not let her ever admit it.  Funny how things like that work out and sure make you appreciate your own little bit of Paradise no matter how homely it may be.  None of the rest of the family ever called her to terms over her "little white lie" and we still invited her to our family doings even though she never came.  According to some of the old aunts, this cousin "still had her nose stuck in the air"!

Snapping turtle poking its head out of the water.

I had to giggle over this phrase today as I sat on the pier staring into the muddy water.  In the shallows, I could see the clear outline of an old snapping turtle as it was stirring up the bottom probably in search of its first meal after the winter hibernation.  The turtle was obviously a bit sluggish from the cool water but was not particularly skittish of my presence.  Not that it needed to be, since with those powerful jaws, it more or less rules the Bayou.  Still, it stayed just under the water most of the time.  I was amazed at how long the critter could hold its breath!  I mean..my goodness!..it seemed like it was underwater forever!  Then, I noticed..and felt a tad stupid!  The turtle WAS breathing!  I had not seen as it would poke the tip of its nose out of the water for a split second..just long enough to grab a breath!  The snapping turtle has this unique nose where the nostrils sit right up on top!  This allows it to stay hidden underwater or under the mud and yet still breathe.  What a great idea!  The turtle could lie in wait for some prey to wander past and yet be completely comfortable!  I watched and sure enough, every few minutes, the water would ripple.  Just a tiny bit of the nose would break the surface and then disappear from sight!  One quick breath was all it took!  The turtle had stuck its nose in the air!

Snapping turtle poking just its nostrils out of the water!

In my mind's eye, I saw the scene well!  A few old spinster aunts whispering as they balanced their plates of fried chicken, baked beans and potato salad on their knees!  "Uppity Miss Turtle!  Just who does she think she is?  Hmmmph...why she is no better than the rest of us!"  "She needs to come down off of that high horse and realize we are just as good!"  "That Dearie has her shorts in a wad! Prancing around with her nose stuck up in the air!".....  Giggle, giggle!  Snicker, snicker!  Poor snapping turtle..all it wanted to do was breathe!

Disappearing Act!

This morning, I sneaked out the back door in hopes that I would be able to get in a little hike around the Bayou before Sunny, the pup, awoke. She always wails like a banshee until I let her out but I figure if I did not wake her..she could not wail! Smart thinking, huh?? My poor Ezzy would miss this outing but in my mind, I promised to spend a bit of extra time with her later in the day. I headed down to the pier in thick fog. The mist made it almost impossible to see my hand in front of my face! While I walked, I kept an eye out for any moccasins that might also be out and about. Just as a precaution, my hike was kept to the board path in hopes that perhaps I could see one there. It is funny how once a poisonous snake is spotted, the alertness level is raised. After another week or so, I will have forgotten all about our not-so-nice visitor and will go plodding around without a care in the world!

As I stepped onto the pier, I heard a sloshing in the tide pool next to the pier. It was low tide but enough water had been trapped behind a ridge of marsh grass to create a nice size "pond". I knew that hundreds of bullminnows would also be trapped in this pond but something much larger was there as well. My first thought was the otters. Sometimes they forage for food among the trapped minnows. Thinking that the fog might provide a decent amount of coverage for a photo shoot, I quietly slipped closer to the pool. When I reached about ten feet from the tide pool, I could barely make out a figure in the midst of the water. This was no otter! It was far to slow moving for the playful mammals! In the fog, this appeared to be a large blob! A large, slow-moving blob could mean only one thing...Snapping Turtle! I eased a bit closer hoping that the fog would conceal me. One false move and the turtle would disappear beneath the mud. I snapped a few pictures but the fog that hid me also did the same to the turtle! Ugh..my one chance to get some great photographs to document the feeding habits of the snapping turtle and it was too misty!

I watched the turtle stretch its neck far out as it tried to reach the minnows. It is amazing just how long the neck of this reptile is! It can fully turn and reach its tail if it so desired! Anyone who thinks they can pick up a snapper by his tail might be in for a nasty surprise! Those jaws can easily take off a finger or two! The turtle will burrow down under the mud and stretch its long neck to the surface of the water to breathe. Its nostrils are located right at the tip of its snout so the turtle can stay will hidden! It is sort of like using a snorkel! Today however, the turtle had no need to snorkel..the minnows were plentiful and the water was scarce. Easy pickings for breakfast, Mr. Turtle! Alas...I attempted to get a bit closer and the turtle spooked. Within seconds it had burrowed beneath the soft mud, totally disappearing before my eyes. If I had not seen the turtle beforehand, I would have never believed that one was so near. What a great disappearing act! Goodbye, Mr. Turtle! I headed back to the Little Bayou House and a wailing banshee!

Surely there is some "Good" in the Bad and Ugly!

Ok..so I am always touting the "good" parts of Bayou living. To my way of thinking, most everything has some good points, sometimes you just have to look really hard..way back behind all of the cobwebs that are obscuring the view. Yes, most everything has some good characteristics..almost. This evening while on the pier, Ezzy, the dog, started growling at something the edge of the marsh. Ezzy..growling? This was strange..she never growls..she barks..she "laughs" (another crazy story!)..and she whimpers..she does not growl. Whatever she had found required attention..now! I slipped up the pier next to her and stared down at where the water met the marsh. There, in about five inches of water, was a rather large snapping turtle! Good Ezzy! She was smart to have stayed on the pier and not attack this critter! This snapping turtle could have easily severely hurt her. Snapping turtle jaws are made for attacking and have been compared to a steel trap..a bite from one of these varmints is bad news! I picked up the long boat hook at poked at the turtle..just trying to provoke it enough to make it move on its way. It latched onto the end of the boat hook and refused to release it. Now what? I tugged..it held on..I tugged..it stayed put. There was no budging this rascal! Next to the pier there was a slender pole stuck in the mud..I grasped it and poke the tail of the monster. So now I have a boat hook in one hand..a slender pole in the other hand..a camera draped over the arm..and a dog that is going into hysterics! If she knocks me into the water with this diabolical foe, she will definitely NOT get a doggy treat tonight! I poked the tail again. The turtle let go of the boat hook and swung around to grab the pole. Ok..so whoever said that you are safe to pick up a snapping turtle by the tail..I have news for you! Their heads can easily reach their tails..and take a nice hunk out of your hand! The only way that I was able to free the pole was to flip the turtle upside down with the boat hook. All I wanted is for the turtle to take leave of my pier area.."GO AWAY!" This turtle obviously does not understand English! "LEAVE THE PREMISES!" No matter how many times I demanded that the snapping turtle abandon the area, I gained no results. I poked and prodded it again..literally shoving it further into the water. I was in hopes that it would seek safety in the depths but noooo..this thing came back. Arrgghh! There is no winning here! I shoved it back into the deeper water..finally, it decided that it was tiring of the game of tug-o-war and paddled out of reach of my boat hook. As it turned to look at me, I think I heard it say.."I'll be back!" Oh, noooo....go live deeper in the Bayou..not by my pier!

The "good" thing about snapping turtles? Ummm..off hand, I cannot think of a one! I know there must be something..somewhere..surely.