In a remarkable turn of events, Virginia wildlife officials have established a new record category for snapping turtles after a local man brought an extraordinary specimen to Green Top Sporting Goods in Ashland. The turtle, dubbed “Godzilla,” weighed in at an impressive 57 pounds and measured approximately 18 inches in shell length.
Chris Moore and Austin Rush, employees at the sporting goods store, were taken by surprise when a nuisance wildlife trapper, Winston Marshall, arrived with the turtle secured in a large trash can. “He called ahead to say he might have a state record, but we had never weighed a turtle before,” Moore explained.
Upon arrival, Marshall carefully handled the turtle, which was notably aggressive, snapping at its container. With assistance from the store staff, the turtle was hoisted onto certified scales for weighing. Although Virginia had not previously maintained records for snapping turtles, Marshall was eager to have the extraordinary catch recognized.
After documenting the details, including weight and measurements, the group reported the finding to a state agency. On September 5, the Virginia Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) announced via social media that this turtle would officially be recorded as the state’s first snapping turtle record. They noted that common snapping turtles in Virginia typically weigh between 25 and 30 pounds, making Godzilla a significant outlier.
Common snapping turtles are widespread in the eastern U.S. and Canada, with alligator snapping turtles being the only species to surpass them in size. In Virginia, it is legal for residents to harvest common snapping turtles.
The DWR thanked Green Top Sporting Goods for their role in documenting this remarkable animal, which was subsequently released back into the waters of Curles Neck Plantation in Henrico County.
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