Shel-he the snapping turtle deemed healthy

At 20 years old and in great health, Shel-he, the pet snapping turtle at Camaro Heaven in Tilton, is expected to outlive the owner and all of the employees of the auto parts business. (Adam Drapcho/Laconia Daily Sun)

27-pound reptile not yet keen on diet addition of leafy greens

By RICK GREEN, LACONIA DAILY SUN

TILTON — A snapping turtle named Shel-he is emerging from winter hibernation at Camaro Heaven, where caregivers are planning some habitat improvements.

The 20-year-old reptile, whose scientific name is chelydra serpentina, was captured as a hatchling by Chuck Drew, who owns the used auto parts operation.

The business was then in the Rochester area and Shel-he was likely facing death on a roadway when Drew picked him up. The turtle was called Shelly before his gender was determined.

Snapping turtles do not make ideal pets. Their bite can cause injury and, like all wild animals, they are best left in the wild.

Still, it is not illegal to keep one in captivity subject to certain rules, state Fish and Game Department Lt. Heidi Murphy said. They are not to be captured from May 15 to July 15 and are not to be taken if they are under 6 inches or are between 12 and 15 inches.

Murphy said a turtle rehabilitator examined Shel-he on Monday and found him in good health.

“She had some suggestions about exercise, proper handling and suggested a larger enclosure,” Murphy said.

The department had also checked on the turtle a couple years ago. It got involved again after concerns from the New Hampshire Animal Rights League.

The league received a complaint from someone who saw the 27-pound, foot-long creature in his 6-foot tank.

Linda Dione, president of the league, said this is no way for a turtle to live and suggested the Squam Lake Science Center would be a better habitat.

Camaro Heaven is no science center, but the sales crew is considering some improvements.

Sales manager Brad Prunier said the turtle rehabilitator suggested leafy greens be added to the reptile’s usual diet of crab and fish.

So far, Shel-he is not interested, but perhaps his appetite for lettuce could increase in the warm days ahead.

“He’s just sort of coming out of his slumber now,” Prunier said.

A lamp has been placed above the turtle’s 150-gallon aquarium and a rock will be added in case he would like to bask.

A fenced enclosure may be built on the hill overlooking the junk yard, not for Shel-he to be king of all he surveys, but so that he may get a little exercise during the day before being returned to his aquarium at night.

Setting him free is out of the question after 20 years of captivity, Prunier said.

“He’s never fended for himself, never hunted,” he said.

Prunier said that from time to time people ask about his welfare.

“There are some people who have concerns, and for obvious reasons, animals are probably best left to be in the wild, but the way we look at it is that at the time of his hatching he would have been run over in the street and probably died, so we feel we saved him,” he said.

Shel-he lives in a tank that’s 6 feet long and 2 feet wide. (Adam Drapcho/Laconia Daily Sun)

Sales manager Brad Prunier watches as shop foreman Larry Contarino pats Shel-he.. (Adam Drapcho/Laconia Daily Sun)