To snap or not to snap, that is the question?

This morning, I loaded my children into the car while it was parked in the garage with the door still shut. You see, I have better control this way. Spencer can't take off on his tricycle and Danielle can't go out front and admire the flowers while I am trying to desperately get everyone loaded. Much more control. After everyone is buckled, I open the garage door and slowly pull out.

Same this morning. Only this morning after pulling out into the street, I noticed something running from my driveway into my grass. Another reason for loading the kids into the van the way I do is sometimes there are loose dogs that run into my garage and greet us while trying to get loaded. After Camie's attack, we aren't too fond of dogs. Anyways, at first I thought maybe it was a smaller dog running. Then I realized it was a turtle that had probably been sitting on my driveway in the shade and when I backed out I scared it and it took off running! I just barely missed hitting the thing! I didn't know turtles could run that fast! No wonder the tortoise beat the hare! This turtle was probably the size of a basketball. I hopped out of the car, let the kids get out to look at this turtle, and ran in to grab my camera.

I wasn't sure what kind of turtle it was, it had the pointed head that I thought indicated a snapping turtle. I wasn't really sure, so I told the kids to stay away. I grabbed my bat and poked at the thing, and sure enough it was indeed a snapping turtle. I'm glad I had the kids stay away from it because I've heard that those type turtles are dangerous and can snap toes right off. The can also be very aggressive, which is how they survive and get so big.

And it was in my driveway! Then on my front lawn. I don't live in a swamp. I live in a quiet subdivision with commerce all around!