Having raised a pair of regular snapping turtles (believe it or not as pets) which lived for 30 years, I do know that biologist do not know the lifespan of the Alligator Snapping Turtles. They do believe that they may live as long as 250 years and maybe longer. The true giant Alligator Snapping Turtles are amazing creatures. The reason that they are a federally protected species is because we do not know much about them and do not know even how many of they there are likely to be. What the population density might be.

The story of the .58 cal musket ball imbedded in a turle's shell has been around a long time in Louisiana Bayou country. It may be an Urban Legend. But who knows for sure? There are a lot of turtle fishermen in the Bayou's of Louisiana. When I was growing up in the '50's turtle soup was quite a treat.