See a turtle roaming around a park? You may want to keep your distance.
A Kirkland lifeguard supervisor last week ran into an invasive alligator snapping turtle from under the dock at Juanita Beach Park, the city’s parks and community services department said in an Instagram post Monday.
The photo shows the supervisor, identified as Dani in the post, holding the turtle, which has its jaw wide open, as if ready to pounce.
While those turtles may look interesting, they can be aggressive, the department said. It said the turtles’ “powerful” jaws can cause serious injury and advised people who spot them to keep their distance and alert a lifeguard or park staff.
Some alligator snapping turtles, which can live for 80 years and grow to as much as 249 pounds, are listed as threatened species in several states, especially around southeastern United States. But they are considered an invasive species and are prohibited in Washington state.
Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.
