TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A dog walker stumbled across an exotic species of snapping turtle last week.
According to BBC, an invasive alligator snapping turtle was pulled from a lake in Cumbria, U.K., after the dog walker found the creature on Feb. 5.
Alligator snapping turtles are native to swamps and rivers in the southern U.S.
Parish councilor Denise Chamberlain, who has lived in Florida, saw the turtle, named “Fluffy,” on social media and recognized the species. That is when Chamberlain and other residents went to retrieve the turtle from the lake, according to BBC.
“I suspect somebody has bought it and not realized what it is, it has got too big for them to look after or they cannot afford to feed it,” she told BBC.
Chamberlain reportedly used multiple gloves and a shopping basket to scoop Fluffy from the lake and take him to Wild Side Vets.
Dr. Moule, a veterinary surgeon from Wild Side Vets, told the BBC the discovery was surprising.
“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,” he said.
BBC said the turtle will be rehomed in a zoo or with a private owner.
