Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Here Turtle, Turtle, Turtle, Turtle!!!!

Been trying to get some hardy lilies established in the pond only to have them clipped by turtles...

Decided it was time to build a trap and see if I can catch some of them to relocate...If it doesn't work I guess it will just become a cage for culling BG.. Will get it in the pond tomorrow and see what happens...

Getting my oldest involved in the build..





Getting closer...



Might add a plank to the center if it doesn't work this way..

Soup anyone??

You will catch more than you know what to do with I employed one of this a few years ago just to entertain the kids the thing was chock full everyday throw some food in the middle of it you'll catch more.

so does it just float in the water then? they crawl in and cant get out?? How exactly does it work? I may very well need one myself. Is that some kind of wire mesh?

RC

I think they use the netting on the sides to climb in (to get food assumedly) and then can't climb out due to the slick surface of the larger PVC.

Oh ok right cause once they are in there that wire mesh is to far away for them to get a grip on I got it. But will that PVC pipe just foat I guess? Or should you put some of those round noodles inside the pipe to help it float?

RC

Yes, it floats and the ramps give the turtles a place to sun themselves.. Wish I could have found some heavier fencing locally, but the coated chicken wire will work fine.. You can either bait them with food in the middle or just float them in the pond and hope for the best..

If for some reason the pvc leaks and it doesn't float I figured I would just drill a couple of holes and spray some expandable foam in side it..Might have to make the ramps a little more ridged also..

I will get some pictures of it in the water on my lunch..

Ok cool would love to see it!

thanks,
RC

What turtles are eating your lillys?

Cheers Don.

Guessing they are painted box turtles or sliders...Our local Lions Club used to have a turtle derby and the guy that owned the pond told them to dump the ones that didn't get taken home in the pond afterwards...That went on for several years..

Hopefully will know more the next couple days..

One of our local towns too had the turtle races until PETA got their noses in it. Could not catch and use wild turtles because it was in humane. So PETA had a pet store supply the turtles for the races. Over 50% of the turtles died because they supplied yearlings that were all of 2"s round. They could not handle the heat or the long grass to run on.

If 35 years of the turtle races there was never a turtle that died until PETA got involved.

I did not know that the sliders would eat lillys. I was going add some to our pond to clean up the few pellets that do not get eaten on windy days. I really do not want them eating my hardy lillys that are just over two years old.

Cheers Don.

Think I am going to have to redo my ramps...They are not sturdy enough...Hmmmmmm...

What happened?

Just zip tie the wire fencing to the outside of the pvc they'll climb right in you need the wire to come all the way to the top on the outside

Should work. Same principle we used to use with the old 55 gallon drum traps. Caught a lot of snappers with them.

Also you might have to add just a little weight to gdt it down in the water more but not enough where they can climb out of the slick side

Still need to work on my ramps but have caught 3 so far.. A friend was working across the street and caught a snapper heading to the pond and took it to the river by his house also.. So 4 down and who knows how many more..