Photo-Diary of a Terrapin Researcher Don Lewis, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Fox Island Wildlife Management Area

Jaws Redux — 30 June 2002

Just when you thought it safe to go back in the water . . .

The referral came by way of the Eastham Police Department.  A family off Meetinghouse Road found a very large turtle crisscrossing the backroads of their community.  They called the Eastham PD: “This may sound like a very strange situation, but we have this huge turtle roaming through the community who is going to get hit and crushed if something isn’t done.”

“No problem,” says the dispatcher.  “There’s a 24/7 turtle hotline.  Call Don Lewis at . . .”

And so the call came.  I cautioned the family that the critter was likely a snapper from the description and to keep the kids away from the turtle’s business end until I arrived.  It proved an exquisite animal (probably confused by all the summer traffic), who just wanted a ride back to the nearby pond.

Back a quarter-century ago Cape Cod became the backdrop for the original Jaws.  It’s fitting that the summer of 2002 should kickoff with this new (sic) rendition.

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