Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations fighting turtles

Turtles are decimating my water lilies, eel grass, and pond weed as fast as it grows. Even fenced they break in. I'm not sure how you ever get ahead of this cycle. In a 50 acre lake we'll never keep up with thinning the turtle herd, although I think I'll start setting out traps and hauling them to the Sabine River. Our lake was stripped of most vegetation years ago when 250 grass carp were added 3 years in a row. All that got us was a bare bottom and alligator weed taking over.

Check for Muskrats and Beavers as well. Grass carp will decimate water lilies, but they will NOT touch Spatterdock , that's what I have had to plant in my 70 acre lake here in Indiana. Also Pickerel weed is pretty much predator free. Flowering water lilies will drive you crazy, unless you fence them in...............Good Luck.

I think Spatterdock was used at Lake Conroe..................

Have you actually seen the turtles eating the lillies in any number? Around here, water lillies would be an absolute last resort for most turtle species. Muskrats, beavers, grass carp, or certain crayfish would be far more likely suspects in this area.

Am I understanding that 750 grass carp were stocked over a 3 year period?

Are you seeing any tubers or roots floating, or up against the banks? Nutria can also a potential problem. This is my first year with them, and I'm already over a dozen trapped. 2 juveniles in the last week, which means Momma's still out there. I'm fairly certain they came up over the dam from Lake Fork Creek.

It's turtles. They are even cutting the leaves of the ones in pots. No way anything else is getting through the fencing. Half moon bites out of the leaves until nothing is left. The eel grass gets pulled out of the pots.

The grass carp were stocked 20 years ago. Just a few left, 4-5 feet long. I see one or two a year.

I really wanted to avoid spatterdock. It can really get out of control. I see other east Texas lakes with lots of white water lilies. They seem to take over once established.

Yep, those are the White Fragrant Lilies. Those are pretty invasive too. The Spatterdock has yellow flowers and will hold the leaves up out of the water.

Hello.

My Turtle trap.

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