Otis the Snapper
Watercolor and ink, 2016
While running in the park one morning, I noticed small, dark, moving lumps in the road. They were newly hatched baby snapping turtles. I scooped up every one I could find then let them go in the nearby pond, to help them escape death by cars. I could not help but think there was some left, while I was at work. I returned to the park to find two. One had unfortunately been run over, while the other was still alive and well. Otis, as I named him, stayed with me for a couple weeks, so I could make sketches of him. I then let him go, as it was obvious he was eager to swim in something other than a small aquarium. In addition, snappers generally do not make good pets once they are adults. :)
While running in the park one morning, I noticed small, dark, moving lumps in the road. They were newly hatched baby snapping turtles. I scooped up every one I could find then let them go in the nearby pond, to help them escape death by cars. I could not help but think there was some left, while I was at work. I returned to the park to find two. One had unfortunately been run over, while the other was still alive and well. Otis, as I named him, stayed with me for a couple weeks, so I could make sketches of him. I then let him go, as it was obvious he was eager to swim in something other than a small aquarium. In addition, snappers generally do not make good pets once they are adults. :)