Old Louisville Snapping Turtle Report Turns Out to Be a Large Tortoise

A 911 call about an aggressive snapping turtle near West College Street and South 2nd Street sent Louisville Metro Police Department's Fourth Division officers scrambling on August 22 — but what they found waddling through Old Louisville was a large tortoise roaming through the neighborhood.

A Mismatched 911 Call

Officers received reports of an aggressive snapping turtle in the area of West College Street near South 2nd Street, according to the Louisville Metro Police Department. When the Fourth Division officers arrived at the scene, they instead encountered a large tortoise roaming the streets of the historic neighborhood, as reported by WLKY. The department described the resulting capture as the “slowest pursuit of the day” in a social media statement, per Louisville Metro Police Department.

LMPD conducted what it called a low-stakes, slow-speed pursuit before successfully corralling the tortoise. The department shared a video showing the reptile calmly munching on grass, along with a group photo of the officers who responded to the call, according to the same WLKY report. The tortoise's actual owner and how it escaped were not detailed in the department's statement.

Old Louisville's Unofficial Reptile History

This is not the first time LMPD officers have chased down a wandering tortoise in the same part of the city. Back on World Turtle Day in May 2019, officers responded to reports of “Spike,” a giant tortoise recognized as the unofficial mascot of Wayside Christian Mission, after he was found jaywalking in downtown Louisville. Officers let Spike go without a warning at the time, per the Louisville Metro Police Department's Facebook page.

Runaway tortoises are not unique to Louisville, either. In September 2023, a 27-year-old African sulcata tortoise named Tank escaped his enclosure in Crawford County, Indiana, and was later recovered by wildlife officials, according to WDRB. The report identified Tank as an African spurred, or sulcata, tortoise.

What Kentucky Law Says About Loose Reptiles

The initial call was about an aggressive snapping turtle. The call therefore concerned a different animal than the one officers found.

Because the animal turned out to be a non-native pet tortoise, the report concerned a different species than the one initially described.

It remains unclear from LMPD's statement whether the tortoise was turned over to animal services or already claimed by its owner.

A City With a Soft Spot for Slow-Moving Reptiles

The chase adds another chapter to Louisville's relationship with turtles.

The incident itself unfolded in Old Louisville. A wandering reptile was always going to draw a crowd — and, this week, a police response befitting its unhurried pace.