Snapping turtle found on frozen lake released back into wild

By Rose Heaphy, FOX 9

Published May 31, 2016 7:53pm CDT

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The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center successfully released the 17-pound snapping turtle back into the wild.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (KMSP) - The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center successfully released a 17-pound snapping turtle back into the wild that was found on top of a frozen pond last year.

On December 22, the 17-pound turtle was found on top of a pond in Lamplighter Park, according to the BluePearl Veterinary Clinic in Eden Prairie. Usually at that time in the year, snapping turtles are resting at the bottom of lakes in a hibernation-like state called brumation.

When it was found, it was covered in mud and had a very large shell deformity, as well as an abnormal lung.

The WRC cared for the turtle for 162 days before releasing it back to its home pond, according to a Facebook post on Tuesday.

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