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Goliath's story is over
Turtle sent to the taxidermist
According to a televised news report, Goliath, the alligator snapping turtle that may be centuries old, has been "reduced to food."
Jerry Phillips, 53 of Berrydale, had been keeping the 100 pound turtle, caught by his 15 year old son Glenn, alive in a boat filled with water in his yard.
Reports to the Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) resulted in visits to the home and the order to either release the turtle, build an appropriate habitat, or reduce the turtle to food.
According to FWC, you can keep one alligator snapping turtle per family, but the housing must meet certain standards. It's also within your right to use the turtle for food.
According to the family, they couldn't afford the cost of building a habitat that would meet the legal requirements.
The family stated they would use the turtle for food and that they always kill turtles humanely. They say every part of the turtle would be used, even the shell for flavoring gravy.
According to reports, the family has sent the carcass to the taxidermist.
The turtle was potentially hundreds of years old and would have lived through the election of William Taft, the birth of Bette Davis, the first ball dropping in Time's Square, and the official beginning of the Boy Scouts.
According to records at the Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court, Phillips was charged in May with one count of the possession of a migratory bird or parts.
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| I hope Goliath gives them a good case of the runs. |
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| Jock - Aug 08, 2008 06:19:39 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Fred - I think we have enough laws but perhaps this one should be changed. If a turtle can survive that long he should be entitled to live. - the name of this article is "Goliath's story is over" maybe not. Maybe they can name the new law after him and in some weird way his memory can live on. Clearly he has touched many hearts. |
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| Dogz Tale - Aug 07, 2008 05:04:25 PM | Remove Comment |
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| It appears the family was interested in garnering publicity and funds and was in fact using public sympathy for the turtle to try to get money
The dad has a record for wildlife violations as recently as May for possession of a migratory bird or parts of a migratory bird and going back years to hunting at night with a light for turkey and deer He also has a list of arrests several pages long for numerous crimes, including domestic violence and child abuse Finally, the Pensacola News Journal did a great disservice by participating in the exploitation of this animal while photographing the turtle at the home of the family. Photographers and reporters stood by and watched as the animal was abused with sticks for the purpose of great photos Great job PNJ You could probably get a great shot of them eating a Bald Eagle. |
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| PNJSTINKS - Aug 07, 2008 04:34:39 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Well maybe they shouldnt have called all the press to come out to wrongturnville and take their picture if they didnt want to hear what people think of them |
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| Whatver - Aug 07, 2008 04:14:10 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Last time I checked, it was still a free country. Taking of this particular 'game species' was still legal and appears to have been taken legaly, so everyone should just shut up. Taking Whitetail deer are still legal, they're much cuter than that turtle. So are squirrel, quail, dove,and all the migratory birds. What's the fuss? These people are well within their rights to do what they have done. It may not be popular, but that doesn't change the legality. Their mistake? Talking to the press and having their picture taken. How many of this type of turtle were taken last year in this area and not a single whimper was heard from anyone, but put a face, even an ugly alligator snapper out there and then everyone's got to elicit and opinion. If you don't like it, change the law, but until then, leave these people alone.
for the record, I don't know them, never heard of them before so my opinion is not swayed by aquaintance.
'Life, liberty and the pursuit of happines'. |
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| Fred - Aug 07, 2008 02:38:40 PM | Remove Comment |
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| This makes me very sad. I think to have kept it alive would have been a more rewarding life experience. I am not sure how much a cage cost vs. taxidermy - clearly they made the wrong choice and unfortunately - now- they can't change their mind. Just very sad. |
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| Dogz Tale - Aug 07, 2008 12:01:45 PM | Remove Comment |
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| I'M SURE IF THEY CARED THE LEAST BIT THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD THE COMMUNITY THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO BUILD HIM A CAGE AND THEY COULD HAVE PULLED MONEY TOGETHER FIR A CAGE. I WOULD HAVE PAID FOR IT ALL MYSELF INSTEAD OF TAKING HIS PRECIOUS LIFE!
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS! |
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| Whitney - Aug 07, 2008 11:00:56 AM | Remove Comment |
