Last week while riding our on the new trail from Northfield to Dundas we stopped for a large turtle on the path.
We got off our bikes to get a closer look and found it was an unusual turtle…one none of us had seen before. We enjoyed looking at it, and wanted to touch it but decided not to. All the while it just stood there (do turtles stand?) waiting for us to leave.
We took in the wonder of it all, then got back on our bikes and continued on our ride. On our way back the turtle was gone.
The next day my friend did some research and found this turtle is called a Trionyx muticus. Click here for a link for more information. It is a soft-shelled turtle with and interesting snout and apparently considered a “special concern species in Minnesota”, which I think makes for a rare sighting.
It was fun to see this creature on the trail and hopefully it will find a safe place along the riverbank to make it’s home.
Valerie, you guys do so many interesting things and have so many remarkable finds in the process! Thank you so much for telling the rest of us who may not have been there, done that.
I am so glad we went to The Creation Museum , Noah’s Ark , Nashville, and Branson ( Noah’s Ark, especially, )
Oh, I guess I also have to include The Creation Museum as a very close second.
Any way I also want to say, we don’t have to go far from home to see God’s special treasures to brighten our days.
It’s true, we don’t have to go far to see special treasures.
I’m glad you had a fun and interesting trip.
Oh, what an odd looking creature. You and Gary really do make some interesting discoveries on your outings! I guess I didn’t really realize there were soft shell turtles. Now I do! Thanks for keeping me informed, !my friend
I didn’t know about the soft shell turtle either…
That certainly is a unique looking turtle. Thanks for sharing this interesting find.
Randy mentioned that he saw a turtle on the back road from Northfield to Cannon City the other night.
I wonder if Randy saw this type of turtle. ‘Tis the season for turtles.