Shala Holm’s incredible family holiday experience at Niemeyer’s Rugged River Resort, where she encountered a giant snapping turtle, has gone viral and stunned the internet community. The creature’s dinosaur-like head and outstretched forearms, complete with frightening claws reaching towards a basket of fish, are captured in the unsettling picture she took.

On the Mississippi River, Holm and her daughter were enjoying a quiet day of crappie fishing in a tandem kayak when the unexpected happened. A strange noise caught her daughter’s attention, and she urged Holm to look over at the riverbed. She was shocked to see a nose come up out of the water and a massive snapping turtle come up to look at the fish basket on the side of the kayak.

Holm, taken aback by the unexpected visitor, lifted the basket swiftly, and the turtle swam away with grace. Curious, she and her daughter went back to the same location the following day. The enormous reptile soon made a reappearance, giving Holm the ideal chance to take a few up-close pictures.

The turtle’s size is still unknown, but according to Holm, its front legs were the same thickness as her wrists. As the largest turtle species in Minnesota, she thinks it belonged to the snapping turtle species. Adult snapping turtles typically weigh between 10 and 35 pounds and are 8 to 14 inches long, with a few exceptional specimens reaching an incredible 65 pounds in weight.

Experts calculated that the turtle was at least fifteen years old, and maybe as old as thirty, when she sent the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) her stunning photo. The resort’s co-owner, Sheila Niemeyer, posted the picture on Facebook without anticipating the massive amount of support she would get. The post received thousands of shares, close to 1,000 comments, and media attention in a matter of days.

Some people were in amazement of the amazing sighting, while others laughed it off and said they would think twice before swimming in any seas where such magnificent creatures might be found. Despite their frightening appearance, snapping turtles are not harmful. The public was informed by Minnesota DNR wildlife specialist Erica Hoaglund that snapping turtles tend to avoid confrontation and rarely pose a threat to humans.

By eating decomposing material, these turtles contribute significantly to the ecology and preserve the health of lakes and rivers. Sadly, they are threatened by a number of factors, such as habitat degradation and car crashes.

In spite of the incredible experience, Holm is unfazed and plans to return to the same location the following summer in the hopes of seeing this amazing animal once more. The magnificent snapping turtle is a monument to the wonders of nature, and her enthralling tale never ceases to amaze and inspire.