Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Snapping Turtles

Wow. I had NO idea there were so many types of traps out there! Thanks for the info!!

ML

What area Mary? We have several Alabama nembers and readers. I get down there several times a year around the Dothan and Demopolis areas.

I'm in Huntsville (Northern AL).

Mary Lynn
(Yep.. I have 2 first names... it's a Southern thing!)

You mean a down home thang.

Could you use a catch pole type thing like animal control officers use? Long pole with a loop at the end that tightens around the neck of the animal?

Thanks for the invite.. Just a little far for me to make that on a weekend.. I will make up a print tonight and send you it.. The best way to get the turtles out is to make the whole whole bottom/top removable, take the top off... the turtles will be sitting there on just the bottom platform of the cage.(stay away from turtles mouth they will circle towards you aggressively).. Get a 55 gallon drum lay it on it's side use a 2x4 or something to push them in the barrel transport and dump.. I will email you some stuff tonight. I have a couple ideas for cages that won't take much to make and will work perfect for you..

PS- I have to build my dock this weekend so your deck is out of the question lol

Thanks in advance for the plans!
Have fun with your own weekend project!

ML

Snapping turtles come equipped with handles for easy transport. Just grab them by their tail. Hold them away from your body so they can't reach your leg and take a chunk out if they get feisty. Like BGK said, make sure which end is the tail end!

Mary Lynn, how big are the turtles?

Do you have a farm supply store near by? Or a petsmart maybe?

1" chicken wire or 3-4" welded wire works better. Buy 4' wide wire if possible. Lay the wire out flat, cut off about 8'. Now fold the wire down from one edge about 8" for the whole length of the wire. Next attatch the ends together with the folded edge inside. It is now a big round wire hoop. Flatten the hoop down till it starts to look like a big wire cusion. On the end that was not folded, close it up using a long stick woven through both "top" and "bottom" edges. Now reach in the folded end and shape the wire on the inside to form a "funnel" this end is the entrance that with the funnel forms a trap similar to fish traps. When you finish bending the funnel wire it should have an opening about 1/3 it's original size. The trap should be about the shape of a big pillow. Hang some chicken meat inside tied to the top of the trap. Place trap in shallow edge of the pond with the top out of the water so turtles won't drown. Works well to tie the trap under a willow or similar tree. Turtles find their way into the funnel opening but can't figure a way out. Remove turtles by pulling out the stick to open the rear of the trap. Hope this makes sense to you, quick, inexpensive and it works-

That's kind of a simple version but I try to make mine square/cube when doing this by folding the first edge and middle area to make 8" walls.. Also leaving a 8" over hang on both other side to make front and rear walls when bent but one end will have 2-4" inch walls on top and bottom that you fold half way in to make a funnel..


THIS IS VERY HARD TO TRY TO EXPLAIN ON A COMPUTER ARE YOU UNDERSTANDING ANY OF THIS LOL

I trap and relocate about a dozen or two every year. Same reason as you, I don't mind a few sunning on the bank but don't want three dozen. Obviously, mine aren't snappers, just plain old red ear sliders. I use a home-made trap same design as seen on the MemphisTwine site, PVC pipe square with a wire drop-bottom. I take them to a swampy area near my work and release.

Jeff-

O.K... working on visualizing this. So 8' of 4' wide wire cloth. Then fold an 8 inch strip down the long edge? Then attach the long edges together with the folded long edge on the inside. Fasten with what? Zip ties, maybe?
So I have an 8' long cylinder. Flatten the cylinder, weave a stick through 1 end to close it (I think that's VERY clever.. would never have thought of that!)
Getting the funnel part is where I'm a bit lost, so if it's not too much trouble, can you take another stab at that part?
My big turtles are about 18" across.. will that be a big enough funnel for them? I am imagining that a shorter funnel is needed for bigger turtles?
Thanks so much! And sorry to not get it on the 1st try.. I'm a pretty visual person, so I think I'm just missing something.

You lost me on this one... but I think the same basic concept.. just squared off... ??

I'll trade you some snappers for some red ears! At least they have more 'charm'!
Where in TN are you? That's my home state!

ML

Sorry didn't get online until this morning I'll draw it up and email it too you tonight.. It's impossible to try and explain this with a computer.. Also go to google image search and type in wire turtle trap that will give you some visuals of what I basically build.. And if you can find a roll of one inch welded wire fence (rabbit cage is what comes to mind) that works best..

I'm just east of Memphis in a rural area called Eads (Memphis is NOT a nice part of this beautiful state). I'll pass on the snaps, but the next batch of sliders I pull out I will definately point them towards your way and tell them you have free eats...

Jeff-

I'm quite familiar with Memphis, I was born there, though I was raised in the other side of the state!
Some of my father's family is still there.. his brother in law and my cousin. Both cops. My cousin now is in Germantown.
Not a fan of Memphis, for sure!

Again... thanks in advance!
Made very good progress on the deck today!! NO snafus, and no injuries!!

Sonofagun! I was gonna post that exact same link! Nice going, bro! That's what I get for being gone from the forum for so darn long!

I had to step up my game in your absence. Now I can step back into the shadows again.

I dont know if you have resolved your turtle problem or not. I've been working on mine with a 22 rifle. I once had a guy tell me, take an old mattress or boxsprings, (with the material gone) and lay it at the ponds edge. Bait it with a whole fryer. I guess just lay it in the center where the intruder will have to walk onto the springs to get at it.Their legs being too short,and they will basically be suspended, and not get any traction, and will be stuck. I've never actually tried it but sure sounds good. Then you must decide what you will do with them.Remember though, if you do not want them in your pond, does your neighbor want them in theirs? 9mm target practice?

I personally am trying to maintain a fishing pond, not a turtle pond. If we strive to manage fish populations, should we not be managing turtle populations? The rule on my BOW if it sticks its head up, it's a target. I have taken out several turtles in the last 2 weeks, and have noticed a dramatic comeback in bulrush, sedge, and arrowhead. Amazing how quickly desired vegetation returns.Also taken out 6 beaver, and a few muskrats.Though I did not notice the comeback till the removal of the turtles. I.e. the Beavers and muskrats being gone for 2 months, the turtles being gone 2 weeks.

I watched a snapping turtle taken down and rip apart a full grown canada goose. It was disturbing.

Snapping turtles will not effect your vegetation.. One they're mainly carnivores(they will eat vegetation though).. Muskrat are vegetarians and if you had 3 that might explain some of the problem.. And 6 beavers in 1 pond is crazy I've never heard of more than one or 2..


Snapping turtle taking down a Canadian maybe "rip apart" questionable lol no pics didn't happen lol