A few days ago, while walking my pack at Fresh Pond, I came across a young woman who had found a snapping turtle on the path. That particular day, it was well above 90 degrees and terribly humid. Quite a few people stopped to ask if she was OK and if she needed assistance or water. She took the water that people offered, but rather than drinking the water, she poured the water over the turtle. As I came around the pond again, two hours later, she was still there pouring water over the turtle. Many people stopped to give her water, but she never took a sip for herself, she continued to pour the water over the turtle, obviously concerned that the turtle would suffer ill effects from the heat without water. I called the rangers station, as did several other people, to request assistance. But she stayed with that turtle for several hours, refusing to drink the water that people gave her, instead pouring it over the turtle to keep him cool. When help finally arrived, she was so dehydrated, she had to be taken to the ranger's station to be treated for heat prostration. Remember, many people gave her water, but she cared more about that turtle than her own health and well being. She knew she could survive, but she was far more worried about the turtle than her own well being.
I LOVE animal people!!!!!
BTW, Vincent, the caretaker at Fresh Pond did manage to get the turtle back over the fence and back into the pond. Happy ending for all!
