Alligator Snapping Turtle Found in Oregon Reservoir

[Dan F]

http://www.upi.com/blog/2013/10/22/...hanized-in-Oregon/1951382482195/?spt=rln&or=1

Probably released this year, as that part of Oregon regularly gets down to single-digit temperatures. It's too bad people do things like this, it's the reason why legislators come up with the bills that threaten our hobby.

On a side note, I know Rick Boatner (the ODFW biologist quoted in the article). I met with him to apply for a prohibited species permit for my CST and have communicated with him a few times via mail and e-mail since getting the permit.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Dan - I bet this guy could survive the winter where it was found. Most aren't aware but there is a small population of these guys in southern Ontario, Canada.

 

[rodger]

They are in S Missouri too. We get sub zero. They hibetnate I imagine like commons do.

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[Dan F]

Dan - I bet this guy could survive the winter where it was found. Most aren't aware but there is a small population of these guys in southern Ontario, Canada.

They are in S Missouri too. We get sub zero. They hibetnate I imagine like commons do.

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Interesting - I always thought of them as being only from the Southeast. The lake is at 3300' elevation and freezes over to the point where people ice-fish, but I suppose it isn't any colder than Southern Canada.

 

[krichardson]

Yes,interesting indeed.I wonder how long that turtle has been in that reservoir and if that population of snappers the Vicious mentioned is naturally occurring or if they are decendents of some long ago transplants....


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[Chub_by]

Someone realeased one in Germany this summer. Weird because they have been banned for 15 years..

 

[Dan F]

Someone realeased one in Germany this summer. Weird because they have been banned for 15 years..

They have been illegal in Oregon for about the same time, along with Common Snappers.

 

[scottt]

They have alot of conflicting range info for snapping turtles I would believe it was naturaly occuring and even though it is an endangered species they destroyed it.

 

[MN_Rebel]

I don't think it's an alligator snapping turtle in that picture....he looks like a common snapper to me.

 

[Dan F]

They have alot of conflicting range info for snapping turtles I would believe it was naturaly occuring and even though it is an endangered species they destroyed it.

Definitely not naturally occurring out here in Oregon!

I don't think it's an alligator snapping turtle in that picture....he looks like a common snapper to me.

It's an AST - look at the shell and it is pretty clear, plus the head is way too big.