An invasive and aggressive alligator snapping turtle was found in Oregon.
"It can be very aggressive and eats primarily native fish but can capture other animals such as ducklings. And it is a safety hazard to people-it has quite a bite," an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) news release reported.
Simon Wray, an ODFW Conservation Biologist, believes the snapping turtle was kept as a pet and then released into the Prineville Reservoir.
"People get these turtles when they are small and release them when they get too big and aggressive to keep as pets," he said. "It's a poor choice for a pet and the environment."
Rick Boatner, ODFW Invasive Species Coordinator said the turtles are extremely rare in the area, and have the potential to cause problems.
"I'd hate to see these turtles get established in Oregon. We already have problems in the Willamette Valley with common snapping turtles," he said.
The turtle was euthanized at the Prineville district office of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Statesman Journal reported.
"We euthanized it as soon as we got it back to the office," Greg Jackle, a district biologist in Prineville, said. "It's obviously a very large turtle that was not something that we've ever seen over here before."
The shell will be used for an ODFW display that helps people recognize "non-native invasive species."A local fisherman was the first to recognize and report the alligator snapping turtle.
Alligator snapping turtles are the largest-known freshwater turtles, the Smithsonian reported. They stand out from other snapping turtles because they have eyes on the sides of their head. Its primitive appearance has earned it the title of "dinosaur of the turtle world."
During the day the snapping turtle will lay on bottom of a body of water and wait with its mouth open wide to reveal a tongue that looks like a wriggling worm. It will chomp down on almost anything that takes the bait. The Smithsonian said the turtle eats any type of fish as well as, "frogs, snakes, snails, worms, clams, crayfish, aquatic plants, and other turtles."
