Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Turtles bugging out

Just got a 4" rain that almost filled up my tank. The next day I noticed a line of turtles leaving the pond. They were headed to my neighbors property, sort of in the direction of the dry creek that was filling the pond. Any idea why they would do this? There were about 6 of them all within a few feet of each other. I just happened to come across this the next day, so no telling how many others already left.

Greener pastures?

Boys on the scent trail.

Making a tower with Yertle?

I guess do turtles try and migrate to new pastures after a heavy rain? There are a ton of turtles in my pond given that I don't believe there is much food for them in there. I think their best source of food is the fish food that comes out of the feeders that lands on the bank and doesn't make it all the way to the water.

I have a similar story.

I was re-homing about a half dozen turtles. I took them to a spot within 30 feet of a creek. I thought the would smell the creek & head right to it. One started down a fence line, the others following, heading for a drainage ditch a quarter of a mile away. The ditch drains into that same creek farther down. Perhaps they were all female turtles??

This time of the year male snapping turtles are going from BOW to BOW looking for females to breed with .

At least with garter snakes, I have seen the females “running away” from the males, and a trail of several males in pursuit clearly following her scent. I would assume similar happens with turtles, only at a slower pace.