A mother and daughter received the shock of their lives when they went fishing after their day out was cut short by the sight of a’monstrous’ snapping turtle. A mother and daughter’s fishing vacation took an unexpected turn when a snapping turtle appeared beneath their kayak. Shala Holm and her daughter, Avery, were fishing on the Mississippi River in Brainerd, Minnesota.

The 67-year-old stated, “Suddenly my daughter said,’ Mom, keep quiet, I hear something breathing’. It took a while before we noticed the nose of a turtle moving toward the kayak. As we came closer, we saw how large it was. “He dove under the kayak and hooked himself on the fishing basket with his nails, and we were terrified because of the size.

The two had came across a snapping turtle, which is famed for its powerful beak-like jaw and lengthy life expectancy, with some reaching 100 years old. Shala calculated that the turtle was 29 inches across, indicating the reptile’s tremendous size.The mother continued, “People asked if I was afraid, and I must say I was at the moment, which is sort of absurd because I am bigger than he was and hopefully smarter.

“I suppose because we were so close to him in the kayak, and I had no idea how desperately he wanted those fish or whether he would try to come into the kayak. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to get him off the basket.” I was apprehensive about gripping the basket’s handle since I didn’t know how desperately he wanted the fish or how violent he would be.

“We’ve all heard stories of snappers snapping a broomstick handle in two.”One viewing wasn’t enough; after the couple escaped, it returned the next day to acquire photographic evidence. Shala explained, “We never heard or saw him again until he was hanging to the basket. “My heart was beating, but I managed to grab my phone and take a few photos.

“I was amazed at the size of his outstretched legs; his feet were the size of my fist and then add those nails!”I was terrified he’d claw his way to the top of the basket. Shala then emailed the images to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which estimated that the one she encountered was around 15 years old.

She expressed optimism for a reunion with the turtle when she returns to Niemeyer’s Rugged River Resort next year.Their claws are supposed to be as sharp as a bear’s, yet they use them to dig and grasp rather than attack.