A Terrifying Creature Encounter on the Mississippi River
During what seemed like a peaceful fishing trip on the Mississippi River, mother and daughter Shala Holm and Avery were startled when a terrifying creature suddenly emerged from the water. They were fishing near Brainerd, Minnesota, when they heard a strange breathing sound. Moments later, they spotted a large animal swimming toward their kayak with massive, bear-like claws.
It wasn’t some mythical water monster, as one might imagine, but actually a snapping turtle — a prehistoric-looking reptile known for its powerful bite. The turtle swam closer, dove under the kayak, and latched onto their fishing basket with its sharp claws.
A Frightening Moment, Captured Just in Time
Shala recalled: “My daughter whispered that she heard breathing, and just moments later we saw the turtle’s nose. As it came closer, we were shocked by its size. Then it dove under the kayak and clung to the basket with its claws!”
Shala estimated the turtle was about 29 inches across. She admitted she was genuinely nervous: “I didn’t know how badly it wanted the fish or if it might try to climb into the kayak. I also didn’t know how to get it off the basket. I was afraid to grab the handle because I didn’t know how aggressive it might get.” Eventually, they managed to shake the turtle off and made a quick getaway.
A Return Visit and Hope for Another Encounter
Despite being initially terrified, the mother and daughter returned to the same spot the next day to snap more photos. Shala sent the pictures to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which estimated the turtle was around 15 years old.
Shala shared that she hopes to see the turtle again in the future — and since snapping turtles can live for over 100 years, there’s a good chance she just might.