re: Perils of Noodling? (NSFW-ish and Possibly Upsetting)

quote:

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It must be true since its on the internet

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I tracked it down. It was published on April 22, 2016, in "Wilderness and Environmental Medicine." The following is the abstract of the article:

"Legend states that the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) should be handled with extreme caution as it has jaw strength powerful enough to bite a wooden broomstick in half. Tales of bite injuries from what is the largest freshwater turtle in North America exist anecdotally, yet there are few descriptions of medical encounters for such. The risk of infection from reptilian bites to the hand in an aquatic environment warrants thorough antibiotic treatment in conjunction with hand surgery consultation. We present the first case report of a near total amputation of an index finger in an adolescent boy who had been bitten by a wild 'gator snapper.'"

The image of the turtle is simply an illustration of proper handling technique that is contained in the article.