Musk turtles can deliver a hard, painful bite if you pick them up. But, they get their name from the musk glands that line the edge of their shells. When a musk turtle is threatened, the glands spew out a yellow, smelly fluid. While it is not known how effective the fluid is in defense, it smells bad enough to make you leave the turtle alone. The fluid is a mixture of acids, and just a few milligrams secreted from each gland are volatile enough to make the stench. Stinky though it may be, the musk does not repel all predators. Hawks, large fish, bullfrogs, cottonmouth snakes, and alligators can eat musk turtles. Musk turtle eggs are consumed by a variety of predators too.