Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in February 2024.
In a scene more suited to a Florida swamp than the peaceful English countryside, residents of a small Lake District village were stunned to find a prehistoric-looking predator lurking in the waters of a local tarn.
Dubbed “Fluffy” with more irony than affection, the alligator snapping turtle — a powerful reptile known for its bone-crushing bite and fierce demeanor — was discovered on Monday in Urswick Tarn, a small lake near Ulverston in Cumbria.
The dangerous find was first spotted by a local dog walker, who noticed the creature sunbathing near the water’s edge. Unsure of what he was looking at, he posted a photo on Facebook, where it quickly caught the attention of Denise Chamberlain — an Urswick parish councillor and reptile enthusiast who had previously lived in Florida.
Chamberlain, who keeps tortoises and has seen snapping turtles in the wild, immediately recognized the armored reptile. “As soon as I saw the photo, I thought, ‘I know exactly what that is,’” she recalled. “I’ve seen these guys in the U.S., and they can grow massive — over 14 stone. Even the younger ones can deliver a serious bite.”
Though this particular turtle was a young one, Chamberlain didn’t underestimate its potential for harm. “They open their mouths as a warning,” she said. “They don’t mess around.”
Alligator snapping turtles are legal to own in the UK, but they’re hardly ideal pets. With a lifespan of up to 70 years and the ability to reach 80 centimeters in length, they require extensive care and expensive habitats. Experts suspect this one was likely abandoned by a former owner who no longer wanted the responsibility.
Concerned about the ecological impact the turtle could have on local wildlife, Chamberlain took matters into her own hands. “These are non-native, invasive predators,” she explained. “They could seriously disrupt the balance in a fragile ecosystem like this tarn.”
With no help available, she launched her own rescue operation. Wearing gloves and armed with a plastic basket, she waded into the chilly waters. The turtle, she said, was hiding in the shadows just below the surface. “It looked like a mini dinosaur — just its nose sticking out, staying warm in the sun but hidden in the water.”
Despite its intimidating appearance, the rescue went smoothly. “Luckily, it was cold, so the turtle was sluggish,” she said. Once it was safely contained, Chamberlain brought the turtle home for a short time before transporting it to Wild Side Vets in Barrow-in-Furness.
Dr. Kate Hornby, who runs the clinic, initially assumed it was a terrapin. “We don’t see many reptiles here, let alone an alligator snapping turtle,” she said. Though the turtle could inflict a painful nip, Dr. Hornby assured it wasn’t an immediate danger at its current size.
The turtle will be transferred to a specialist reptile center where it can recover in proper conditions. Dr. Hornby suspects the animal was abandoned after its owner realized just how challenging it is to care for such a demanding species.
Fluffy, believed to be around five or six years old, has yet to be sexed due to its size. But the whimsical name stuck. Chamberlain chuckled, explaining, “The name’s a playful reference to Hagrid’s three-headed dog from Harry Potter.” “And let’s be honest — Fluffy looks like something Hagrid would absolutely adore.”
