As a kid I had a snapping turtle and piranha fish as pets. When I got a little older I needed to get rid of them. So I took them the local city lake and set them free. Years later I heard stories of many of the fish in the lake floating up to the surface with bite marks on them. I thought it was a cool coincidence and took credit for it from my piranhas. I forgot about the turtle until an article in the local paper was sent to me.
Legend of Monster of Laguna Lake Comes to Life Orange County Register 9/10/04 | BARBARA GIASONE
FULLERTON – Rumors swirled around Laguna Lake for 40 years that a vicious snapping turtle named “Old Bob” lurked beneath its water lilies. Turns out the talk was not some exaggerated fish tale. On Thursday, dredging company workers snared the 100-pound snapper near a park dam in the north-central part of the city. A Santa Monica contractor, hired to scoop out fish during a $2 million restoration of the 7-acre lake, netted the 50-year-old, 36-inch alligator snapping turtle along with catfish, crappie and bluegills.
I don’t know if it was mine – but it could’ve have been.
Old Bob. I miss my old snapper.
Laguna Lake all trimmed and clean.
Back in the day when it was a real lake.