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Oscar the Giant Turtle
A giant turtle, estimated at 500 pounds, was spotted in an Indiana lake. Named Oscar, it sparked a massive hunt. Farmers drained the lake. Divers searched. They found nothing. But multiple witnesses saw something huge surface.
1948
Churubusco, Indiana, USA
50+ witnesses
The Beast of ‘Busco became one of America’s strangest hunts.
The Sighting
1948:
- Churubusco, Indiana
- Fulk Lake
- Farmer Gale Harris
- Saw giant turtle
- Estimated 500 lbs
The Description
What was seen:
- Alligator snapping turtle
- Enormously oversized
- Shell 4-6 feet
- Prehistoric appearance
- Multiple witnesses confirmed
The Hunt
Media frenzy:
- National attention
- 6,000 visitors
- Lake partially drained
- Divers searched
- Nothing found
The Efforts
Attempted capture:
- Traps set
- Bait used
- More draining
- Extensive search
- Oscar vanished
The Theory
Possible explanations:
- Very old snapper
- Alligator snapping turtle
- Misidentification
- Multiple turtles
- Something undiscovered
The Legacy
Town embraced it:
- Annual festival
- Turtle mascot
- Museum exhibits
- Tourist attraction
- Part of history