Pelican vs turtle fight captured on Ontario lake
The pelican shook off the turtle after a wild, 2 minute struggle
It would seem to be the most unlikely of animal battles.
The incident took place near Sioux Narrows, Ontario, on Lake of the Woods.
Ellis was getting ready to enjoy a shore lunch with his wife Cheryl, friend Jeff Port and fishing guide Matt Rydberg.
As Rydberg was cleaning some walleye, he threw the carcasses to some white pelicans that were hanging around near the shore lunch spot.
As the birds were gulping down the fish carcasses on the water, Cheryl Ellis noticed something strange.
One of the pelicans began flapping wildly and pecking at something under the water.
It soon became clear a medium sized snapping turtle had clamped down on the pelican's leg.
Ellis grabbed his IPhone and caught a bit of the struggle on video.
After a couple of minutes of wild flapping, the turtle let go of the pelican and they both swam off in opposite directions.
Fishing guide Rydberg, who has been on Lake of the Woods for 28 years, said he had never seen a snapping turtle try to grab a pelican in all that time.
Snapping turtles are native to the northwest of Ontario, and can live to be 100 years old.
Large adult snapping turtles can weigh 30 kg. and better.
The average white pelican weighs between 5 and 10 kg.