drawing: snapping turtle

There is a bumper sticker that says “I Stop for Animals” to display, warning drivers that are behind. That statement holds true in my driving. So far, I’ve stopped for deer, geese, squirrels, and a chipmunk. But my crowning achievement, this summer, was stopping before a whopper-sized snapping turtle, and saving it. It just sat in the middle of the road, thinking that its shell will protect it. Sadly, a turtle shell is not that strong. Some truckers even find pleasure in running them over.

Anyway, for my turtle, I ran out of the car and was ready to pick it up by its tail. (Warning: never pick up a snapping turtle near its head, or even its side! They can and will chomp!) But as I approached it from behind, happily, the turtle advanced to the other side of the road to avoid me catching it. No harm to either of us. Whatever works, right?

Snappy went on his merry way toward a serene lake, nearby.

My drawing is of the snapping turtle, enjoying its home in a pond.