Kayaking trips are always enjoyable! Even if you’re not paddling, you can revel in the beautiful scenery, explore nature, and encounter wildlife you may never have seen before.
Recently, Carolina Diz and her partner Brittany took a trip to Central Missouri, unknowingly stepping into a life-saving adventure. Their journey began when they spotted a peculiar wooden box partially buried in the muddy shores of a Missouri lake, which piqued their curiosity.
What Is It
As they approached the box, Carolina and Brittany observed unexpected movement inside. “Oh, it’s moving,” Carolina exclaimed.
Realizing something was wrong, the couple observed a mud-covered creature inside. After a moment of patience, Carolina surmised correctly that it was a turtle, surprised by how it had ended up in the box since it seemed too large to escape through the opening without a change in water levels.
“OK, he’s too big to fit through that opening, which means he must have gotten in when the water was still high and now he’s stuck,” Carolina told The Dodo.
With years of experience as a media producer, Carolina understood that the situation was critical; the turtle was at risk due to the dangerously low water level. Furthermore, the cold weather posed a further threat to the turtle’s survival, as it needed to be back in the water immediately. “I’ve worked on many turtle videos, so I knew that turtles need to be in water to survive the winter,” she explained.
Positive Outcome
Carolina and Brittany devised a plan; instead of trying to lift the heavy box, they utilized a kayak paddle to carefully extricate the animal from the mud. To their astonishment, they discovered not just one, but four turtles trapped in the box!
The kayakers successfully rescued all four turtles and brought them to the water’s edge, where the turtles instinctively entered the water, returning to their natural habitat. It was a fulfilling moment to witness.
“It was fantastic to see that they all instinctively knew to go straight back into the lake,” Carolina concluded. Thanks to their quick actions, Carolina and Brittany secured a new beginning for these turtles, along with a vital chance at life!
