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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

Turtle in pond

14 years ago

I know that by building a pond I was encouraging wildlife to make it's it's home. I didn't really think this would be a reality though. Now I have a turtle swimming around in my non-turtle friendly pond. I don't think there is any way for it to get out, I took it out yesterday but it proceeded to walk right back in. How would I go about making an exit for him to come and go? The last thing I want is to find a dead turtle at the bottom of my pond next time I clean it.

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Comments (3)

johnkr
14 years ago
Turtles are expert climbers. Most people who have them in their pond must perfect foolproof methods of keeping them. They have a tendency to escape using methods you would never believe possible.

If the turtle can get into your pond, it can most likely get out. My painted turtles like to sit on rocks and driftwood, but they are capable of floating as well. I don't think the turtle is at risk of dying.

The turtle will probably stay as long as food is available. If there is no food, it will leave.
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bgtimber75
Original Author
14 years ago
Ok, great, thanks. I just took him out again a few minutes ago, now I wish I would have just left him in there. It's neat watching him swim around in there.
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ItÂs been three weeks now and the snapper is doing fine. I have seen him several times moving around under the ice. When the pond is not frozen, he seems to be under some submerged plants out in the middle. The water quality is good, and my painted turtles in the front pond have survived several winters. I was able to account for all my fish last week. I also saw a frog at the bottom, so the snapper has not been eating everything. I have a large industrial net that can hold the turtle if I am lucky enough to get him. He seems to go to the same areas of the pond when it is iced over and I am hoping he starts to go there when it is thawed. I have a large tub with a lid that I have cut holes into. Once I have the turtle in the tub, there is a lake about 20 miles away that will be his new home. I have had many suggestions about baiting a hook or getting a trap, but I really donÂt want to risk harming the turtle, I just want him out of my pond.
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I have seen snapping turtles eat eat fish up to a foot long. I bet they could take them larger with not much trouble. Once while fishing in a large farm pond I heard a commotion on the other side and saw it was a duck being attacked by something. I went to investigate and found a large snapping turtle eating a mallard duck that it had just killed. Don't ever under estimate the power of hunger! After all these turles are carnivores. You must also be aware of bullfrogs and water snakes. I once put a big Bullfrog in my pond, and it ate a 10" comet goldfish the very first night. I went out the next morning and there was the frog under the waterfall with a big orange tail sticking out of it's mouth. I've also seen a few snakes with very suspicious lumpy bellies around my ponds.
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Herp de derp
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comettose
14 years ago
I found an Eastern Painted Turtle crossing my street near by driveway so I stopped and picked it up and put it on the edge of my pond and it dove right in. It stayed for about 1 week and I've not seen it since. There is plenty to eat in my pond as my reptile and amphibian book states the painted eats just about anything, including small fish, frogs and also plants like anacharis, pickerel weed, waterlily, all of which I have. I have natural waterways very close to my home so he/she probably was just passing through. Very pretty turtle but OK it has moved on.
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