Snapping Turtle, Longtime Resident of Lake Carasaljo, Says the Lack of Infrastructure at the Lake is Forcing Him to Relocate to Forge Pond in Brick
Three-foot-long snapping turtle, Henry Crawlinburg, has lived in Lakewood Township’s Lake Carasaljo for close to eight decades, but the turtle now says that due to a lack of infrastructure at the lake and a growing aquatic community, he’s relocating to Brick Township’s Forge Pond.
“I love Lakewood,” the veteran snapping turtle told the Aquatic Daily News Site on Wednesday, “I grew up here, played with all of the local reptiles as a kid, but the turtle community is growing by leaps and bounds while the Lake’s infrastructure keeps withering away day by day.”
“What’s more, traffic in the turtle community is ridiculously slow,” he added, “especially among the smaller turtles. I mean, you’re talking about shell-to-shell traffic moving at a snail’s pace, like about 1-mile per 300-hours! That’s way too slow for me! I remember the days when turtles could travel the length of the lake in about 5 1/2 days!”
“This kvetchingly slow pace is definitely not what Reb Aharon envisioned,” the turtle added, “that goes without saying!”
“New and improved infrastructure is desperately needed around the Lake,” he asserted, “I mean, it’s not just turtles like me who are fleeing the Lake; the ducks and geese are fleeing by the droves too!”
“Gone are the days when I would wake up in the mornings to the glorious sounds of hundreds of quacking ducks,” he lamented. “The ducks are abandoning Lake Carasaljo like passengers on a sinking ship! Oye!”
“I’m sorry to say this,” the veteran, old-time Lakewood turtle said, “but I’m moving to Forge Pond in Brick. “I realize I’m not a young hatchling anymore, but I’m starting life anew, in a brand new, comfortably wet environment. So long Lakewood!”