Author Topic: There's a snapping turtle in my pond (Read 1801 times)

Indiana Karen · « **on:** July 03, 2007, 09:30:17 PM »

We have been noticing damaged fins on our fish this past week or so. A couple days ago I got in and cut back a lot of the waterlilies so we could see the bottom better. We suspected a snapping turtle. We have never had one before but couldn't imagine what else could do all the damage to our poor fish. :'(

This afternoon I walked out to check on the fish and our oldest and largest butterfly koi had been attacked, he died later. :'( :'( :'(

We got nets and began pulling back lily leaves and looking. Hubby suddenly thought of the big cypress beside our lightpost. It hangs over a shallow shelf in the pond. He took the handle of a net and pulled back the limbs of the bush, sure enough there lay the turtle. He made three attempts with the net, but it was too small and he got away. We got bigger nets and searched until dark, but never found him. Some friends brought up a turtle trap and we have it set and baited with beef liver.

We just gotta catch this

turtle. :'(

Karen

Sandye · « **Reply #1 on:** July 04, 2007, 12:12:12 AM »

I'm sorry, Karen.

I hope you catch him.

thepitclub · « **Reply #2 on:** July 04, 2007, 03:36:53 AM »

I'm so sorry about your butterfly. I sure hope you can find and relocated the turtle asap. (Tempting as it may be to make him into soup right now.) Good luck.

Julles · « **Reply #3 on:** July 04, 2007, 08:44:49 AM »

How big is that "small" turtle? I know the mature size, and it's fairly huge.

I'm just wondering how big a snapper has to be in order to be able to catch fish and maim / eat them.

Also, some of them, perhaps only the alligator variety, lurk on the bottom and open their mouths and wiggle their tongues, luring the unsuspecting fishies inside, whereapon they snap the jaws shut and - no more fish!

Kittyzee · « **Reply #4 on:** July 04, 2007, 08:53:20 AM »

Oh I'm so sorry about your koi :'( Yes, I'd be jugging that turtle out of there ASAP! Nothing good can come out of a snapper being in a small fish pond....

Indiana Karen · « **Reply #5 on:** July 04, 2007, 09:00:35 AM »

We didn't get him with the trap last night.

We have rebaited with a bluegill. $:-\$ We've spent most of the morning looking for him, but there are so many places for him to hide. I cut back a lot of the lilies but there are still so many and frankly, after seeing him, I don't want to reach my hands down in the water to cut back the rest. I've seen snappers latch on to a stick, and they don't let go. At first glance I would have said he was bushel basket size

but actually he was probably ten to twelve inches.
To make matters worse, a kingfisher sat in the tree yesterday and watched all the action. I think everything is against us. :'(

Karen

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2007, 10:10:58 AM »

That is a sad shocker. That's no little turtle...hope you catch it soon.

livetogarden · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2007, 11:00:58 PM »

Yikes!!! 10-12"??????? Scary!!

Sorry about your favorite fish. :'(
Cath

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #8 on:** July 05, 2007, 05:03:33 AM »

Oh dear! I'm so sorry! I sure hope you catch the booger soon.

barb · « **Reply #9 on:** July 05, 2007, 05:57:11 AM »

He sounds pretty big, I'm sorry about your poor fish. I hope you catch that turtle ASAP!

tinkster · « **Reply #10 on:** July 05, 2007, 06:55:04 PM »

Man I hope you catch him soon. I had a huge one in my garden a few years ago. he was as big as a tire almost. We had a horrid time getting him into a bag so my cousin could take him away. THey can do some real damage.
tinkster

Bonnie · « **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2007, 07:16:57 PM »

Did you catch it Karen?

Sorry to hear about your fish...

bunny56lbc · « **Reply #12 on:** July 05, 2007, 07:22:53 PM »

That's terrible ! I hope ya catch that turtle . Sorry to hear about your favorite fish .
bonnie

Indiana Karen · « **Reply #13 on:** July 05, 2007, 09:33:38 PM »

Thanks everyone for your concern.

No, we haven't caught it. We haven't seen it again since that first time and we haven't noticed anymore damage to the fish.

Our friend that loaned us the trap wonders if it left since we had been aggravating it poking and prodding in the pond constantly. You would think with all the time spent looking for it that we would have seen it again, if its still in there. I am hoping it left, but have my doubts. I want it gone permanently.

Good grief Tink, the size of a tire! I would be scared to death of that thing. I surprised myself when we saw this one the other day. I was so upset that I got in the pond immediately with a net looking for it. Didn't even bother to change my clothes or shoes!

Karen

Bonnie · « **Reply #14 on:** July 06, 2007, 10:12:05 AM »

Hope that it's gone for good Karen!

Ky Kim · « **Reply #15 on:** July 06, 2007, 11:08:47 AM »

Maybe it moved on, I sure hope so.

Kim

Author Topic: There's a snapping turtle in my pond (Read 1801 times)

Indiana Karen

There's a snapping turtle in my pond

Sandye

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

thepitclub

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

Julles

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

Kittyzee

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

Indiana Karen

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

miguynmkoi

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

livetogarden

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

happyoutsidegirl

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

barb

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

tinkster

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

Bonnie

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

bunny56lbc

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

Indiana Karen

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

Bonnie

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond

Ky Kim

Re: There's a snapping turtle in my pond