Alligator turtles are recognisable thanks to their armour-like shells, which give them a prehistoric, dinosaur-like appearance.
Ms Chamberlain warned: “It’s a very dangerous invasive species. They can snap people’s arms and small children.”
With a bite force of 1,000lb, their powerful jaws can snap through bone – so they should never be handled in the wild.
Explaining how the turtle may have wound up at the Lake District beauty spot, she said: “It’s an item from the pet trade being dumped because an owner was unable to look after it.
“It was starting to look quite sorry for itself. I rang various agencies, who were unhelpful. Everyone thought it was a terrapin – it’s not.”
The carnivorous snapping turtle was treated by the vets, whom Ms Chamberlain described as “heroes”.
She said of their efforts: “They’ve got it on its feet. They were brilliant – very helpful.”
Impact on local ecology
The turtles are considered an invasive species, even outside of the south-eastern US, because of their impact on local ecology and the fact that they have no natural predators. They are also found in South and Central America.
The reptiles can grow to around 31in and weigh up to 14st, with the oldest recorded one in history living to around 70 years.
The turtles eat fish and mammals that live in fresh water along with vegetation and are mostly active at night, when they hunt for food.
The news comes as one of Britain’s most notorious invasive species, the American mink, could soon be eliminated from the UK after a successful trial.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
