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| Bill Kinney Photography |
It was a frigid day in the early spring and the sun was shining just enough to be melting the ice that had accumulated on the ponds. It was at the point where you could tell spring was coming because the animals were getting into different routines and there were warmer days that you thought it might be nice to go for a walk outside. It was on a day like this he decided to do just that, go for a walk.
Going for a walk generally entails either bringing binoculars to spot critters or a bow to practice on bush animals along the path. On that walk he brought the bow. As he meandered along the paths through the field he ended up crossing the pond dam. Looking across the thin sheet of ice left covering the pond he noticed a dark shadow near the shore. With the ice crystals sparkling in the sun it was hard to distinguish, but upon closer inspection you could clearly see...the dark shadow was moving.
Curiosity drew him to the shore and found a giant snapping turtle trying to get a breath of air where the thin ice connected to the shoreline. Taking aim through the ice he drew back his bow and shot. A snapping turtle isn't a fast moving creature in the first place, being cold definitely didn't help. He'd been shot straight through the head...and it appeared not to notice....with the exception of the arrow being buried in the mud below its head causing him to be pinned. He carefully broke the thin ice and went to claim his catch. The cold turtle was too chilled to struggle, but obviously was oblivious to the arrow in his skull.
Bringing him back to the house, it was noticeable that the snapper was covered in leeches. Being under the ice all winter obviously doesn't bother a leech. They were thriving. After thinking about it for a few minutes he had a solution and went into the shed and came out with a power washer. Turning it on full blast he sprayed the turtle from head to tail and the leeches went flying. The kids had been watching from a few feet away and then ran away screaming,"Run away! Its raining leeches! Eww!!!" Indeed it was, but after a good five minute power washed shower that snapper was probably as clean as he'd ever been, and he was not happy!
They didn't know how to clean it, but wanted to try a turtle recipe so they consulted the neighbor. He told them he'd come by later and show them how it was done. He stopped by later and brought the air compressor and a basketball inflation needle. He turned the turtle over and stuck the needle right in the middle of its shell where the plates all came together. Then he turned on the pressure. First the legs started to slowly pop out, then the head and tail until the whole thing looked like an inflated balloon three times the size of turtle.
At that point he turned off the pressure and told them all they had to do was skin it. The air goes between the skin and the meat and basically does all the work for you. He looked back at the turtle,"How'd you get rid of all the leeches anyways?" he asked. "Power washed it." He looked at them like they were crazy,"You power washed it?! Well that's just crazy! Maybe I'll have to try it next time!"
Crazy? Excuse us, but you just inflated our turtle.
And that is how you clean a snapper!