A mysterious creature recently surfaced in the Mississippi River, capturing the attention—and imagination—of thousands. While the authorities have assured the public there’s no reason for concern, the sighting has still sparked widespread curiosity.

So what would you have done if you came face-to-face with a giant snapping turtle just a few feet from your kayak?

That’s exactly what happened to a woman from Minnesota, and the way her story took off online was something she never expected.

Meet Shala Holm, a lifelong resident of Buffalo, Minnesota. Shala encountered something unforgettable during a summer trip—a massive snapping turtle that has since gone viral across social media platforms.

The now-famous photo shows the enormous turtle with thick claws stretching toward a net full of fish, its rugged, dinosaur-like head leading the charge. The sheer size of the creature is striking, and anyone looking at the photo can immediately tell this isn’t your average turtle.

Shala was on vacation with her family at Niemeyer’s Rugged River Resort, located near Brainerd, Minnesota. It was a typical summer getaway for the Holms, who make the trip every year. On the day of the sighting, Shala was paddling in a tandem kayak with her daughter when the unexpected encounter occurred.

“My daughter suddenly said, ‘Mom, be quiet. I hear something breathing,’” Shala recalled, thinking it might be a deer or bird along the riverbank. But when she turned around, she got the shock of her life. What she saw instead was the nose of a massive turtle slowly rising toward the fish basket attached to their kayak.

“He just clawed onto it,” she said. “He was huge. We were so surprised.”

Startled by its size and close proximity, Shala quickly shook the basket, hoping to scare the turtle away. Fortunately, it worked, and the creature slowly swam off, disappearing into the water.

Curious and intrigued, Shala and her daughter returned the next day, hoping to get another look—and maybe even a photo. They took the same kayak route and passed the time fishing. Then, as if on cue, the turtle returned.

“One of the best parts of kayaking is that you’re so close to the water,” Shala explained. “So when it came back, we were right there, only a few feet away.”

While they couldn’t determine the turtle’s exact size, they believed it was a snapping turtle. Judging by the size of its legs—about as thick as Shala’s wrists—they knew it was unusually large.

According to Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), adult snapping turtles typically measure between 8 and 14 inches long and weigh between 10 and 35 pounds. But the largest one ever officially recorded in the state tipped the scales at a whopping 65 pounds.

Wanting to learn more, Shala sent her photo to the DNR. Experts estimated that the turtle was likely at least 15 years old—possibly even 30. That would make it one of the oldest—and likely biggest—turtles in the area.

The story might have ended there if not for one decision: the owners of Niemeyer’s Rugged River Resort, Corby and Sheila Niemeyer, decided to share the photo on the resort’s Facebook page. That’s when things really took off. The post was shared thousands of times and received hundreds of comments. Reporters began reaching out to Sheila for interviews.

“A lot of people were like, ‘Is this real?’” Sheila said, laughing. “It absolutely is.”

Located along a slow, quiet stretch of the Mississippi River north of Brainerd, the resort is no stranger to local wildlife. Sheila explained that they see plenty of turtles every June when they come ashore to lay eggs. But nothing prepared her—or anyone else—for a turtle of this size.

“Watching the turtles is something we love every year,” she added. “But this was on a whole different level.”

Despite some commenters on Facebook saying they’d never swim in the river again, Sheila insists there’s no danger.

“I think if you looked closely at any lake or river, you’d be surprised by what’s really down there,” she said. “But the reality is, most wildlife wants nothing to do with people. They’ll leave you alone if you leave them alone.”

She also hopes the viral moment brings more attention to the beauty and peacefulness of their resort.

“I’d hate for people to be scared off,” Sheila said. “Some might think, ‘Oh no, I’m not going there—I don’t want to swim with that thing.’ But honestly, seeing animals in their natural habitat is incredible.”

Wildlife experts agree. Erica Hoaglund, a regional nongame wildlife specialist with the Minnesota DNR, said in an email that snapping turtles often get a bad rap because of their intimidating appearance. But they’re not actually dangerous to people.

“They may look scary and will defend themselves when they feel threatened, especially on land where they’re more vulnerable,” Hoaglund explained. “But in the water, they’re usually calm and just want to be left alone.”

If given the opportunity, snapping turtles will avoid confrontation and quickly flee.

“They really just want to go about their lives undisturbed,” she added.

As for Shala Holm, she wasn’t afraid of the giant turtle she encountered—in fact, just the opposite. She’s already planning her return next summer, in hopes of another run-in.

“I want to go back to that same spot next year and see if he—or she—is still around,” she said with a smile.

For Shala and many others, this rare moment was a reminder of the wonders that still exist in nature—and how surprising encounters like these can bring unexpected joy and awe.