Shala Holm’s extraordinary encounter with a massive snapping turtle on her family vacation at Niemeyer’s Rugged River Resort has taken the internet by storm. A photo she took shows the turtle’s dinosaur-like head and formidable claws reaching for a basket of fish. While fishing with her daughter on the Mississippi River, they heard a mysterious sound and spotted the huge turtle. Startled, Holm lifted the fish basket, and the turtle swam away.

The next day, they returned, and the colossal reptile reappeared for close-up photos. Holm estimates its front legs were as thick as her wrists, likely a Minnesota snapping turtle, the state’s largest turtle species. Although some were amazed, others joked about swimming with such creatures. However, snapping turtles are not dangerous and prefer to avoid humans.

These turtles are crucial for the ecosystem, consuming decaying matter in lakes and rivers. Despite the threats they face, Holm plans to revisit next summer, hoping for another encounter. Her story is a testament to the wonders of nature.