Is there any turtles or terrapins native to britain ?

[N0z]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Some of the european pond terrapin colonies have successfully bred in Britain in the past. However as mentioned red-eared dont breed here. I am not aware of any unified attempts to eradicate them, they are not in huge numbers and since they (red eared) cant breed here are unlikely to become a huge problem. Although locally they could cause issues such as predating young water birds and amphibians.

So its a good idea to remove them, am i right ?

[faz]

lots of these terrapins are released in to the wild from the craze in the 90,s of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lots of people bought them as pets for there little darlings got fed up or did not know how to look after them same as owls from the harry potter films lots were bought form disreputable breeders again not looked after released in to the wild

[tigertom]

I live in Runcorn and as alreddy stated a lot of red eared terrapins around canal and have seen some this year on local lake no more than one and half inches long basking and more than one was about 4 of them and have noticed a lot of sizes in between the very small ones right up to a few larger ones about the size of dinner plates and over the years seem to see more and more of them on this lake though I will admit not 100% sure small ones red eared hard to get a good look, but the rest are, locals all say they must be breeding on lake.

[~T~]

Originally Posted by tigertom

I live in Runcorn and as alreddy stated a lot of red eared terrapins around canal and have seen some this year on local lake no more than one and half inches long basking and more than one was about 4 of them and have noticed a lot of sizes in between the very small ones right up to a few larger ones about the size of dinner plates and over the years seem to see more and more of them on this lake though I will admit not 100% sure small ones red eared hard to get a good look, but the rest are, locals all say they must be breeding on lake.

It's doubtful they would be able to breed as they need very high temps for an extended period of time. Babies are still purchased and released often though and it's map turtles and a few other species over red ears (which I think are banned from import now) so that would explain what you are seeing.

[frankiex]

seen terrapins in joespond at rainton meadows durham.

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by ~T~

It's doubtful they would be able to breed as they need very high temps for an extended period of time. Babies are still purchased and released often though and it's map turtles and a few other species over red ears (which I think are banned from import now) so that would explain what you are seeing.

The bigger ones are red eared small ones dont no about will have to try and get closer when I next see them. I do not think they are breeding but am at a loss as to where they are comeing from as none of local pet shops sell terrapins. Have one question what damage if any can large numbers do the lake they are in is a fishery and home to numbers of nesting water birds will they take the eggs of these Thanks mike

[N0z]

Does anyone do anything to remove these terrapins from the wild ?

[nightshade]

Thames water find all sorts of non natives in waterways both fish and terrapin