WCNC (Charlotte, N Carolina) 07 May 08 'Monster of Lake Wylie' identified as giant turtle
Lake Wylie, S.C.: Some people are calling it "the monster of Lake Wylie," and even nicknamed it "Nessie." But a Rock Hill man has finally discovered what it is.
Nathan Morgan was fishing near Kings Mountain when something grabbed onto his line. He jumped into the water when it wouldn’t let go, to find an 85-pound snapping turtle.
Morgan was eventually able to wrangle the turtle. He went home and weighed himself with – and without – the turtle. That’s how he knows it weighs 85 pounds.
The biggest snapping turtle on record is 235 pounds. But Steve Bennett, a herpetologist with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, tells WCNC’s Maria Kotula that 85 pounds is at the higher end of the scale. He says he can’t tell exactly how old the turtle is, but – from its size - it appears to be an older one.
Contrary to what people think they may have seen, turtles do not have teeth. A snapping turtle’s mouth is more like a beak. They can be very aggressive when they’re disturbed, but it’s rare that they can sever bones (other than fish bones).
Nathan Morgan says he’s still not sure what he’s going to do with the turtle. He says he’s thinking about donating it to a nearby zoo.
http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-050708-krg-turtle.d8fba704.html