‘Invasive’ snapping alligator turtle found in North West and named Fluffy

An ‘invasive’ alligator snapping turtle was found in a lake by a dog walker and has been named Fluffy by vets.

The animal was pulled out of Urswick Tarn in Cumbria, despite being native to freshwater habitats, such as swamps and rivers, in the US. 

It was fished out of the water using a shopping basket, three layers of gloves and a large container before being taken to a vet. 

Staff at the Wild Side Vets clinic lovingly named the exotic creature Fluffy, who is believed to be around five or six years old.

Alligator Snapping Turtles mature at around 12 years old and can live up to 70 years in captivity, weighing up to around 80-90kg.

The turtle must be handled with extreme care and is considered potentially dangerous as it can deliver a very ‘nasty bite’ and will eat ‘pretty much anything’. These animals are opportunistic feeders that live on a mainly carnivorous diet.

Dr Dominic Moule is a veterinary surgeon at Wild Side Vets in Barrow-in-Furness and was present when the animal was brought into the clinic. 

Having previously worked in a zoo, he was able to identify the species. Dr Moule said when the species is fully grown, its jaw is strong enough to bite through bone.

He described the discovery as ‘surprising’, and told the BBC: “At this size, it could give you a nasty bite but when they get bigger, they can grow up to 80kg and they can cause some damage.

“I’m sure if it was left there it would be invasive and eat everything in the water.”

The turtle is being cared for at the veterinary centre but will be relocated to a specialist reptile centre where it will be housed in warmer water to speed up its metabolism, as it may be in hibernation mode due to the colder climate and temperatures.

It is believed the creature may have been kept as an exotic pet but released into the wild because its owner found it too difficult to cope with its complicated needs.

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