CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — After local wildlife photographer Robert Loerzel spotted a pair of large snapping turtles in a pond at the North Side’s Rosehill Cemetery over the weekend, he agreed to take WBBM Newsradio on a little field trip around the area.
“I have to warn you: There’s a bunch of red-winged black birds that are nesting, and they might attack us,” said Loerzel.
By Monday evening, Loerzel’s social media post showing th/e large snapping turtles, which he jokingly described as “Chonkosaurus’ cousins,” had been seen by thousands of people. On Monday, though, with a WBBM reporter in tow, he was unsure whether lightning would strike twice.
“I don’t know how predictable their appearances are,” he said. “I saw a big snapping turtle here once a few years ago.”
Sure enough, though, two snapping turtles — each about 2 feet in length and about 1 foot wide — swam up to shore. Their shells were covered in algae and other green plant life.
“I’m a little surprised that they just swam over to us like this,” Loerzel said.
Snapping turtles or not, Loerzel told WBBM that Rosehill Cemetery is a great place in Chicago to walk with nature.
“Sometimes you’ll see herons and other birds here by the pond, a whole bunch of deer live over here … I haven’t seen a coyote here for a while, but you might occasionally see one out here.” he said. “Are those dragonflies?”
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