Terrapin Trappin

[ian at lings]

I have a wetland site with at least one fairly large terrapin which appears to be scoffing amphibians and waterfowl chicks. Anything which might threaten my healthy grass snake population is not welcome so I would very much like to remove it.

Does anyone have any idea how I might trap him/her safely without endangering any other wildlife (otters, water shrews, water voles etc).

At present I'm thinking of trying to produce something lobsterpot-ish out of stock netting and timber.

Once caught I will be looking for a new owner for it. I'm told they make stinking and bad tempered pets which tend to bite. Perhaps my sales pitch could be improved! Still - it's that or soup!!

Many thanks

Ian

[Ukwildlifeo]

While researching for a blog post on red eared terrapins I came across this folks:

NEW TERRAPIN RESCUE

they should be worth contacting

[ian at lings]

Many thanks for the terrapin rescue info. IF I catch it (& it's a big if!) I will try & get it to the terrapin rescue folk. I was joking (mostly) when I threatened to make it into soup!!

Also found a Wild About Britain forum post from APC asking the same question last year so I'll drop him or her a line & see how they did with their trapping.

Cheers

Ian

[armata]

Sorry for late response but just joined this forum.
I have caught quite a few terrapins/sliders whatever you like to call them using this method.

Get several old tyres with a net suspended beneath each of them. Each tyre must have a line to the bank so can be hauled in/ Terrapins will bask on the tyres and when alarmed will dive off 50-50 chance into the net, but it does work. then you haul it in.

Is it legal to ethanase red-ears now? Difficult to find homes for so many.

[eeyore]

When I managed a wetland site we used to drift round in a boat under lying under a scrim cloth and blow them away with either a 410 shotgun or a rifle depending on what was to hand , and on the situation and backdrop.

I am aware that this isnt going to be a universally popular option but to my mind these alien species are no more worthy of being caught and rehomed than mink.

[Ukwildlifeo]

I think killing them is a bit extreme, since there is no firm evidence of them doing any serious damage to native wildlife (although that maybe due to lack of research more than anything) and they are not breeding in the wild in the UK, well not yet anyway! (I wrote a summary of the info I could get my hands on here earlier this year: Red eared terrapins or sliders (Trachemys scripta))

Still Im all for them being rounded up from the wild and given to suitible (and secure!) homes

[RogerTheCat]

My local reserve Stover Country Park has a resident Terrapin that has lived in the lake for several years. The lake also has a large number of waterfowel with only one leg or a damaged leg(s). It is suspecetd that the Terrapin who is a good size is the cause. When they are small people will keep them in fish tanks with fish and it is common to see fin damage when the terrapin has taken a bite. As they get bigger I would assume they will take bites out of bigger animals which is what appears to be happening at the lake

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

I think killing them is a bit extreme, since there is no firm evidence of them doing any serious damage to native wildlife (although that maybe due to lack of research more than anything) and they are not breeding in the wild in the UK, well not yet anyway! (I wrote a summary of the info I could get my hands on here earlier this year: Red eared terrapins or sliders (Trachemys scripta))

Still Im all for them being rounded up from the wild and given to suitible (and secure!) homes

On the whole i'd rather not wait until there is a viable breeding population before we start trying to control them . (thats the mistake we made with grey squirel), my inclination is to act now before yet another alien predator becomes endemic in the british countryside.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by eeyore

On the whole i'd rather not wait until there is a viable breeding population before we start trying to control them . (thats the mistake we made with grey squirel), my inclination is to act now before yet another alien predator becomes endemic in the british countryside.

Agreed - preferably by catching those that are out there and by pet sellers and owners being more responsible!

[wildmanofthewoods]

Some years ago a friend of a friend caught a terrapin from a local canal. He took it to the RSPCA; they told him to release it back, from where he had found it..DDURRRRR