Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Overabundance of Turtles

A friend of mine currently owns a 3-acre pond that has an overabundance of turtles. He considers them to be a nuisance and would like to eradicate them from his pond and probably a portion of the existing watershed on his property. I explained that although they may be a nuisance removing them could be very time consuming and since his pond seems like a haven for turtles it would make sense that once a void is left from removing the turtles that more will show up. I have a couple of questions.

-A Turtles diet consists of dead fish, invertebrates and plants right? The turtles should not have an effect on the existing living fish population.
-If he does want to remove them what is the best method?
-Once removed should these turtles be transplanted somewhere else? I would think an imbalance would occur in this new area where the turtles were placed. I would hate to see him destroy these creatures though.
-How might you prevent a return of turtles? Is this even possible?

Any thoughts on this topic? Forgive me if this has come up before.

Lots of threads on turtles .. here's just three:

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=001047

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000003

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=19;t=000067

Thanks Ric I will read through these tonight.

Here's a quick reply. Turtles don't disrupt a healthy fish population. They may irritate a few fish, along with the pond owner, but turtles don't damage the pond. At the same time,if big numbers of turtles congregate, they will eat fish food, uproot a few plants, and wallow around fish nests. Removing them and transplanting turtles usually does little harm. Turtles tend to leave overcrowded areas if competition for food is too intense.

Thanks Bob.

I think I will recommend relocating them when the opportunity presents itself since this will give him peace of mind. I have yet to figure out the point source causing such an influx of turtles on this one body of water. The pond and watershed seem normal in all aspects when compared to others in the same region. I’m either missing something or his water body has some gravitational pull attracting a high number of turtles. Since you mentioned fish pellets this may be the problem. Anyway I think we’ll start with the moving process next summer and see if the void left is replenished. If it does I think he’ll go into a deep depression.