A man found an ‘angry’ snapping turtle in the River Trent and then took it home and put it in his bathtub.
The aggressive large reptile is over half a metre long, weighs 4kg and is not native to the UK, with the species more usually found in North America than Staffordshire.
They prey on fish, birds, and amphibians, and can give humans a nasty bite too.
The man who found it was walking with his children when he spotted it by the riverside behind an Asda supermarket in Burton-upon-Trent.
He thought the reptile would be a danger to others so picked it up and took it to his home where he placed it in the bath and then called the RSPCA (which does sound more sensible than it first appeared).
Animal rescue officer Karen Brannan was sent to the scene and collected the turtle, which she named Hagar.
He has now been found a new home at the National Turtle Sanctuary at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park.
Hagar is believed to have been a pet which either escaped or was abandoned.
Karen said she thought the turtle may have lived in the area feeding on fish for quite some time.
She added: ‘He was a really big and aggressive turtle so I called him Hagar.
‘I had to handle him very carefully as he was very angry and obviously this species has quite a bite as well as a very mobile head and neck.
‘He had a fair bit of algae on his shell so I suspect he had been living in this area for quite some time and would have fed on fish and small mammals.
‘It is a real concern if someone has discarded a pet like rubbish when there are animal welfare charities and organisations which would offer help.
‘An animal like this could have been a real danger to other animals and people as they are capable of such a strong bite.
‘I am keen to find out where Hagar came from.
‘I am just so grateful to the turtle sanctuary for taking on Hagar as an animal like that is not easy to find a suitable home for.
‘They believe he’s approximately 12-years-old but they are capable of living to around 100 years – so I expect he has a long and happy life to now look forward to.’
Andy Ferguson, zoo manager, said: ‘Hagar is settling in well to life in a seven metre pool. He is definitely one of our more angry turtles – it is just his personality.
‘This type of turtle is capable of a formidable bite and they are known as ambush predators so will hide before attacking for food.
‘Unfortunately we have come across cases like this before where they have been found in rivers.
‘They are not ideal pets and have very specific needs.’
It is illegal, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, to release non-native species, such as snapping turtles, into the wild.
RSPCA scientific officer for exotics, Evie Button, added: ‘Snapping turtles have extremely powerful jaws and should never be handled by an inexperienced person.
‘So we would urge anyone who finds one not to approach it themselves but instead to contact the RSPCA or a local reptile expert who can help.’
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