Augusta, Georgia, Golf Course Wildlife

[Old Salt]

Need someone to settle an argument. Watching the US Masters and cannot agree what type of turtles are on the course. They don't seem to move very far from the water. What do they eat? Also, I thought there might be some alligators about. Tried to Google, but can't seem to phrase the question to get a result Hope some kind soul can give me a reasonable rundown

Awaiting enlightenment
Old Salt

[fredpuli47]

It is the common snapping turtle ( chelydra serpentina).There is only one other freshwater turtle of that size in Georgia , the spiny soft shell ( apalone spinifera) but the turtles we can see have long necks and are brown,both features of the common snapper (whereas the spiny soft shell is olive green and has no distinctiive neck).
It eats 'anything', according to the University of Georgia's museum of natural history website, which means plants, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and fish.

It's not the friendliest of beasts. It gets its name from its habit of snapping at humans who get too close to it. The ones we see are evidently not close enough to be an annoyance, not that the University indicates that they present any danger!

The American alligator (alligator missisipiensis ) is found "in the sloughs and swamps of Southern Georgia", they say. That description doesn't seem to fit Augusta National, and a Sports Illustrated description of the club and course which includes a list of wildlife there, mentions e.g the red tailed hawk, fish, and snakes but doesn't mention alligators. They'd merit a mention: imagine the litigation if a dangerous animal hurt some visitor or player !(The local University, a touch unnecessarily, cautions against approaching alligators)

[Old Salt]

Terrific response fredpuli47

I knew about the snapping turtles being common, but never really knew what exactly the ate. The fact that they are not picky explains why when I was a kid in Florida, the subject never came up.

I know the teacher went nuts when one of my classmates brought a-big-one to school in a cardboard box. Don't remember what happened, I think it was released into the swamp near the school.

In Florida, I know some of the golf courses have special rules for alligator's that interfere with play.

Once again, thank you very much, maybe I can return the favour one day.

A grateful and much (more) enlightened
Old Salt