Get the SHELL out of here! Astonishing moment terrified turtle scuttles over grass at mind-boggling speed then plops into a lake

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The rabbit in the famous fable might have been less brash at the thought of racing a turtle rather than the slow-and-steady tortoise.  

Unlike their relaxed relations turtles can make a quick get-away if they are spooked by a situation.  

Yousef Al Zarou was out jogging near his home in Fresno, California when he came across this startled turtle.

The turtle was walking in the grass and didn't seem to welcome the disturbance to his stroll. 

Yousef goes to inspect the turtle while it looks straight into the camera trying to suss out the situation.

However he immediately turns tail and starts to make his get away, initially slowly, and then quickly scurries into a nearby lake.

Yousef Al Zarou was out jogging near his home in Fresno, California when he came across this turtle walking in the grass. The uncertain turtle was spooked by the intrusion and quickly turned around

Turtles are usually slow creatures because they have no reason to be fast, as herbivores they don't have to chase their food to eat.

Due to their thick shells they aren't usually bothered by predators either and because of this they have reason to be speedy. 

However when spooked, turtles can run between three to four mph but this can risk broken bones, shells and sprains.

Therefore unless their is a reason for speed turtles take a note from the slow and steady tortoise and tend to take it easy.    

At surprisingly fast speed the turtle scurries away and plops into a nearby lake for safety