Kayakers stumble across giant alligator snapping turtle

Sunday, August 30, 2015, 4:05 PM - If you haven't heard of an alligator snapping turtle before, it's probably a good idea to brush up on some facts. You never know when you might stumble across one.

Fortunately, the father and son who stumbled across the turtle on Long Island recognized it almost immediately.

Roy Gross of Suffolk County's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) says that the snapping turtle was likely dumped by a former pet owner, CNN reports.

"This is not the kind of pet you want to have," Gross told CNN. "They are dangerous. They are unpredictable. Too many people have been hurt.

Officials from the SPCA say the turtle is not native to Long Island, which is why it was removed. The turtle is notorious for its powerful jaw that can "snap off" fingers and toes.

The alligator snapping turtle was found in a shallow pond where people frequently come to enjoy the Nissequogue River, CNN notes.

The turtle has since been relocated to its new home at the Holtsville Ecology Center. The personal responsible for dumping the turtle could face a $1000 fine and up to one year in prison, the SPCA says.

SOURCE: CNN | Suffolk County SPCA