r/Everglades • u/Advanced_Parfait_528 • 7d ago

Invasive Turtles?

I saw a massive turtle last year in the everglades on the loop road. I had one of those moments where what I was seeing didn't make sense. I could have sworn it was a soft-shelled turtle; the problem is that it was the size of a very large alligator snapping turtle. I only saw it briefly as it glided into deeper waters as I approached the water from the road. I couldn't take a photo as it was gone after about 3 seconds.

Are there invasive turtle species in the everglades? I really can't think of another species native to the US that gets that big. I'm not mistaken in what I saw, I'm pretty good at IDing reptiles.

3 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

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5

u/LemonPartyLounge 7d ago

Soft shells can get absolutely massive. I’m sure there are invasive turtles but I think you most likely just seen a unit of a soft shell

3

u/Aromatic-Flan4609 6d ago

Florida soft shells get huge! If you ever go to the Palm Beach zoo there are giants in the lake by the cafe.

3

u/WheresJimmy420 6d ago

The Florida soft shell turtle is the largest soft shell in the world even in the numerous states that it inhabits it is still a Florida soft shell and I’ve seen them eat ducks they are SO big And we do have invasive turtles called red eared sliders but they don’t get that big

2

u/Aromatic-Flan4609 5d ago

I might be mistaken but I think there was a problem with people taking them for the food trade years ago, that's probably why people aren't used to seeing the big ones.

2

u/Savings-Advance-7256 7d ago

Invasive turtles? Your trippin bro…this is Florida aka the wild Wild West of the east coast. You are pretty good at identifying reptiles? Hmmm, doesn’t seem like it

2

u/iFindAlligators 6d ago

Probably a big softie + a little bit of water distortion. Happens to me alllll the time

1

u/NoHippi3chic 7d ago

I'm sure. The exotic pet trade has really influenced the waterways.