IS1557 Turtles In Mississippi Farm Ponds

Turtles In Mississippi Farm Ponds

Farm ponds and lakes scattered across the Mississippi landscape provide an excellent habitat for many species of turtles. Some species can typically be seen basking in the sun atop a stump, log, or other object protruding from the water. Other species, such as soft-shelled and snapping turtles, don't bask but spend most of their time submerged in the water, rising only periodically to breathe. In most situations, turtles do not pose a threat to the fish population in a farm pond, but their presence can become a nuisance to fishermen or other users of the pond.

Turtles feed on a combination of plant and animal materials that include aquatic weeds, crawfish, insects, fish, other small animals, and dead or decaying organic matter. Snapping turtles are the only group that feed significantly upon live fish. Most turtles, however, will take advantage of a free fish meal offered on a fish stringer.

Turtles reproduce by laying eggs in the early spring. Hatching begins in late summer and extends into fall. During the winter, turtles usually bury themselves in soft mud or sand in shallow water with only the eyes and snout exposed.

Turtle Problems

Turtles are seldom a biological problem in farm ponds, but they might sometimes compete with fish for food items such as crawfish, insects, or other small food items, which is not a serious problem in most cases. They can, however, create a nuisance to fishermen when they are caught on hooks and must be removed, when they take baits intended for fish on trot lines, or when they eat fish on stringers left in the water. Turtles also become a problem in ponds where fish are being fed, because turtles quickly learn that fish food tastes good and represents an easy and free meal. Nonetheless, turtles can be beneficial in several ways.

Their greatest service is as scavengers that clean up dead fish and other animals, or help to eliminate diseased or weakened fish. Except for snapping turtles, they don't capture many live fish at all and should not be considered a problem in this regard.

Legal Considerations

Although most turtles are not protected by Mississippi laws, an increasing number are being identified for protection in one form or another. Several species are currently listed as either threatened or endangered in Mississippi, and it is critical that these species are left alone to ensure their continued survival. A list and description of Mississippi's threatened and endangered turtles are available from the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science or your county Extension office. Before removing turtles from your pond, contact the Museum of Natural Science for advice and for assistance to be sure you do not have a protected species.

Control Methods

Before pursuing any type of control method, it is wise to consider whether or not turtles are genuine probelms in your pond. Unless numbers are high and the interference with other pond uses is severe, it is probably best to leave the turtles alone. However, if you have significant problems, you may need to consider removing a portion of the turtle population.

Shooting turtles as they bask in the sun or as they swim in the water is an old practice you should never use. Shooting into or across water is dangerous! Shooting also creates the possibility of killing a protected species, since identification from a distance is impossible. There are no repellents or toxicants that can be used, so trapping is the only alternative.

Trapping can be used effectively to reduce local populations. The best seasons for trapping are spring, summer, and early fall. Most turtles are inactive through the winter and feed very little, which makes use of baited traps ineffective during that time.

Although snappers and soft-shelled turtles can be effectively trapped using underwater, baited traps, it is seldom necessary to remove these species from a farm pond. The more aggravating species are the "baskers," which often crowd together in large numbers on stumps, logs, or other structures projecting above the water surface. By taking advantage of this trait, these species can be taken by trapping with a trap-box in the area turtles normally use. With such a trap, the turtles crawl up onto the top of the box and then fall into the trap, where they are collected and can be removed to other locations.

The simpler of the two designs can be constructed from discarded telephone poles, old railroad ties, or logs about 8 inches in diameter. Weathered or unpainted wood is preferred. The logs are mitered at each end ot fit together, and the inside dimensions should be 2 to 3 feet square. About half of each log from the top center to the inside undercenter is lined with tin or galvanized metal. Turtles that drop into the trap are unable to crawl or climb over this metal-plated area. Cleats may be placed on the outside edge of the logs to assist turtles in climbing onto the trap from the outside. Galvanized-wire mesh can be fastened to the logs with hooks or staples to form a wire basket to serve as a catch basin. Anchor the trap to prevent drift and/or loss of the trap.

The second trap type is a little more coomplex, but effective. This trap has inclined boards leading up from the water, with pivoting "basking boards." When the turtles crawl onto these platforms, the boards overbalance, droping the turtles into the collection box.

Check traps daily and remove all turtles, then transport the turtles to another location and release them into thier natural habitat. If you plan not to use the trap for an extended period, it is a good idea to flip it over on its side so turtles are not captured and left in the trap for long periods.

Summary

Remember. It is wise to assess your situation before taking any control measures. If possible and tolerable, the best control measure is no control! However, if it is determined you have a significant problem, trapping is the only vaible option. Before beginning a traping program, contact the Museum of Natural Science, your county Extension specialist, or your local conservation officer to determine if you might have a protected species. It is also advisable to discuss where you will dispose of these turtles, since they should never be indiscriminately "dumped" onto the property of other people or into public waterways.

By Dr. Martin W. Brunson, Extension Leader/Fisheries Specialist. Adapted from Fowler, J.F., and J.L. Avery. 1994. Turtles -- Prevention and control of wildlife damage. Cooperative Extension Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska.

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Information Sheet 1557
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director

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