A Close Encounter with an Ancient Creature on the Mississippi River

A day of peaceful fishing on the Mississippi River turned into an unforgettable adventure when a mom and her daughter came face-to-face with a creature that seemed to belong to another time.

It was a calm day near Brainerd, Minnesota, when Avery Holm and her mother, Shala Holm, were fishing from their kayak. But their tranquil outing took a surprising turn when a massive, clawed figure emerged from the water, sending chills down their spines.

A Startling Discovery

The mother-daughter duo first sensed something was amiss when they heard a strange breathing sound. “All of a sudden, my daughter said, ‘Mom, be quiet, I hear something breathing,'” Shala recounted. As they searched for the source of the noise, they saw the large creature’s nose breaking the surface, swimming toward their kayak.

As it drew nearer, the enormous animal revealed itself to be a snapping turtle—a reptile that looks like it stepped out of prehistoric times, infamous for its powerful bite and formidable claws.

A Terrifying Moment

The turtle, estimated by Shala to be about 29 inches across, swam under their kayak and latched onto their fishing basket with its massive claws. “We saw how big it was as it got closer. The size scared us so much,” Shala admitted.

Shala, 67, confessed that the encounter left her quite shaken. “People asked if I was scared, and I have to say I was at the time. It’s funny, because I’m bigger and hopefully smarter than he was,” she said, adding that the close proximity of the turtle left her unsure of its intentions. “I didn’t know how badly he wanted those fish or if he would try to get into the boat.”

An Unforgettable Experience

With their basket firmly in the turtle’s grasp, Shala and Avery quickly paddled away once they managed to shake the turtle off. Shala’s heart was racing, but she still managed to snap a few photos of the enormous creature.

“I couldn’t believe how big his legs were when he stretched them out. His feet were the size of my hand, and those nails! I was worried that he would try to climb up on top of the basket,” Shala said, recalling the encounter.

Despite the scare, the two returned the next day to take more pictures of the area where they had their unforgettable meeting. Shala later sent the photos to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, who estimated that the turtle might be around 15 years old.

With snapping turtles known to live up to 100 years, Shala hopes she might have another encounter with the ancient-looking creature on a future fishing trip.