FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. — Animal control had an interesting call in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Animal Protection Police said they received multiple calls reporting a massive snapping turtle, but it wasn't the variety that's common to that area. Virginia is home to the "common" snapping turtle or Chelydra serpentina. But the one that was found crawling around Alexandria was an alligator snapping turtle that lives in rivers that flow into the Gulf of Mexico, as well as being found in Georgia, the Florida panhandle and East Texas, WUSA reported.
Recently, our Animal Protection Police received a call about a large turtle in a residential area of Alexandria. Much to their surprise, it was a 65 lb alligator snapping turtle! Learn more at: https://t.co/RtHz4aJ5qP #FCPD pic.twitter.com/qgYFRmUyMS
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) June 15, 2020
The turtle weighed about 65-pounds. Police believe he had been living near a pond or storm drain, The Washington Post reported. They can grow to weigh about 200 pounds.
He was taken to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter before being taken to his new home at the Virginia Zoo. He also got a new name to go with his new home — Lord Fairfax.
Officials believe he may have been a captive-bred turtle that was released, the Post reported.
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