These types of things only happen to us...

So Duff came home yesterday with a story. Here is the preface: after I had come home from work, Duff went to the college to do some work. Upon his return, he finds me and the puppy in the backyard and says to me, "you will never believe what just happened..."

Apparently, when Duff was walking from his office to the car, he saw a giant turtle lying on its back on the pathway next to the pond (we're talking over a foot long, here). He thought, poor turtle. I should turn you over and send you back to freedom. So, after inspecting the turtle for a good grab point, Duff reached down and grabbed what he thought was the space between the rear leg and the tail. Instead, it turned out to be the front leg and the head. As soon as Duff touched the turtle, the little sucker's head whipped out and latched onto Duff's hand, in the tender spot between your thumb and forefinger. In shock, Duff pulled his hand away, only to have over 25 pounds of turtle come with it.

So there was Duff, standing with arm outstretched and a 25 pound turtle hanging from his hand. Luckily, after a few seconds, the turtle lost its grip and fell. It landed right side up and safe, at which point Duff made a run for his car. And he turns up at home looking like this:


If you click on the image to enlarge it, you can get a better idea of the extent of damage a turtle bite can do.

Anyway, the moral of this story is...beware of turtles--they are out to get us. ;)