Mother-daughter fishing trips are supposed to be all about relaxation and catching fish, right? Well, for Shala Holm and her daughter Avery, their peaceful outing on the Mississippi River turned into a scene straight out of a wildlife thriller!
Imagine sitting in your kayak, enjoying the serene environment near Brainerd, Minnesota, when suddenly, out of nowhere, a massive creature with bear-like claws decides to join the party.
According to Shala and Avery, the first sign of their unexpected guest was an unusual breathing sound that prompted them to scout their surroundings. What they saw next was nothing short of astonishing.
While many might imagine a scene from a mythical creature feature, the real intruder was none other than a gigantic snapping turtle. Despite its frightful appearance and reputation for a powerful bite, the creature that emerged was a living relic of prehistoric times.
Shala described the chilling moment: “Suddenly my daughter said, ‘mom, be quiet, I hear something breathing’.
“It took a while before we saw the nose of a turtle swimming toward the kayak. As it got closer, we saw how big it was.
“He dove under the kayak and latched himself onto the fishing basket with his nails.
“We were so freaked out about the size.”
The turtle, Shala estimated, spanned about 29 inches across. She humorously recounted her initial fears, saying, “People asked I was afraid, and I must admit at the time I was, which is kind of silly because I am bigger than he was and hopefully smarter.
“I guess because we were so close to him, being in the kayak, and I didn’t know how badly he wanted those fish and if he would try and get into the kayak.
“I wasn’t sure how I would get him off the basket. I was nervous about grabbing the handle of the basket, I wasn’t sure how badly he wanted the fish and how aggressive he might be.
“We’ve all heard stories of snappers snapping a broom stick handle in two.”
Eventually, they managed to detach the turtle from their basket and hastily paddled away from the scene.
Shala shared, “We never heard him or saw him again until he was clinging onto the basket. My heart was racing but I was able to grab my phone and snap a few pictures.
“I was amazed at the size of his outstretched legs; his feet were the size of my fist and then add those nails!
“I was afraid he might claw his way on top of the basket.”
Despite the initial scare, the adventurous duo returned the next day, hopeful for another encounter and managed to snap some photos which they sent to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The experts estimated the turtle could be about 15 years old.
With a new sense of awe and a bit of luck, Shala hopes to meet the ancient turtle again, knowing well that snapping turtles can live over a century. Here’s to many more thrilling kayak adventures!