What appears to be an ‘alligator turtle’—a reptile spotted in late July down by Mill Pond—stopped traffic Saturday afternoon closer to downtown.
New Canaan police were called to the area of 116/118 East Ave. on Sept. 6, 2014, on report of what appeared to be an alligator turtle traveling near the busy roadway. Here an officer and several pedestrians and stopped motorists look at the animal, which made its way under a bush. Credit: Terry Dinan
At about 3:45 p.m., pedestrians and motorists in the area of 116/118 East Ave.—not far from the intersection at Hoyt Street—paused over to ogle the large, scaled animal, which made its way into a bush.
A police officer responding to a 911 call on the animal advised people not to put their fingers near the animal.
Sept. 6, 2014—What appears to be a relatively rare alligator turtle makes its way into a bush in the area of 116/118 East Ave. in New Canaan. The reptile stopped traffic. Credit: Terry Dinan
Asked whether someone should contact the New Canaan Nature Center or a veterinarian out of concern for the animal’s welfare near motor vehicle traffic, the officer said there was nothing police could do.
Typically found in the southeast, the creatures are scaly and have spikes on their backs. Alligator turtles have been spotted on private property in New Canaan in the past. They’re a different species from the snapping turtles that many New Canaanites know.
—Terry Dinan contributed to this report
As a professor of biology who studies turtles for a living, I can assure you that what you have there is a common snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, a native resident of Connecticut. No need to worry!