Wow! Giant Snapping Turtle Seen Wandering South Dakota Streets

South Dakota wildlife surrounds the state, and one town is lucky enough to see one of the largest animals to call South Dakota home.

Mayor Travis Schaunaman of Aberdeen, South Dakota, shared a shocking picture of a unique animal encounter in a grocery store parking lot.

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The Aberdeen Animal Control team and police officers had the interesting task of capturing a dinosaur-like animal...a huge snapping turtle! This guy is a monster!

This big snapping turtle was found in the middle of the Kessler's Food & Liquor parking lot located along 6th Avenue late last week. This is something that many South Dakotans don't often see. So when they do, clearly it's a big deal.

Do Snapping Turtles Live in South Dakota?

Snapping Turtles are commonly found in South Dakota. According to Amphibians and Reptiles of South Dakota, they can be found in bodies of water like wetlands, lakes, streams, rivers, ponds, and even occasional ditches.

The species of Snapping Turtles found in South Dakota is the "common snapping turtle" (or known as Chelydra serpentina). These snapping turtles are considered dangerous and big. They can be anywhere between 8-14 inches long.

Aberdeen Mayor Travis Schaunaman (via Facebook)

The town of Aberdeen is amazed at the size of its neighbor.

This guys probably been in the mog since the dawn of time

He was going to get Tiger meat!!!!

It's not raining cats and dogs...it's raining snapping turtles?!

That's a whopper of a snapping turtle!!!!!!

Word to the wise...always contact the local police department if a snapping turtle needs to be removed. It's not the best idea to approach these big dinosaurs.

10 Deadliest Creatures in US: South Dakota Has Lots of Them

The deadliest animal in the U.S. isn’t the alligator or bear or even the mighty shark. In fact, the answer may surprise you.

It may also surprise you how many of these creatures can be found in South Dakota.

Here's the top 10:

17 Animals You Can Hunt All Year in South Dakota

South Dakota loves to hunt. It's not only one of the state's most popular pastimes, but it's also big business. Especially South Dakota's famous Pheasant season.

There are seasons for hunting deer, antelope, turkey, and even bison. Plenty of opportunities to get that freezer in the garage stocked up.

The South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department is the place to go for info about hunting licenses and specific rules and regulations for hunting in South Dakota.

GET: South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook

Hunting most game in South Dakota is restricted to specific hunting seasons. Like deer and pheasant seasons in the fall.

But there are also animals you can hunt year-round in South Dakota.

There are still some rules to follow, like where exactly you can hunt. South Dakota has millions of acres of public and private land to hunt on. And you'll still need a hunting license.

So, always check with the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Department for the latest information and regulations.

LOOK: South Dakota Is Home to the World’s Largest Pheasant [PICTURES]

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns