Marked Western Pond Turtle

[Dan F]

Today at school the bus driver brought me a surprise...

He showed me a turtle in a bucket and asked if I "wanted it". He had found it in the middle of the road (basking) and was afraid it was going to be run over. I recognized it as a Western Pond Turtle and so I told him that I would release it for him (and told him to just move it off the road next time).

Upon closer examination I noticed that he had two triangular notches in his carapace. When I got my Prohibited Species Permit from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for my Common Snapping Turtle they required me to notch her in a similar way, so I had a feeling they might have something to do with this turtle. I called the ODFW and they told me that the turtle had probably been part of a study. They gave me the number of the biologist in charge of turtles, but I haven't been able to connect with her yet.

He's actually quite large for a Western Pond Turtle, a bit over 17 cm carapace length. I haven't weighed him yet, but I plan to before releasing him back where he was found.

Anyways, I thought this was pretty interesting. Anyone else ever found a marked turtle?

 

[Vicious_Fish]

Great find! I know those guys aren't as common as they use to be. I believe that is the only native turtle species in your state.

 

[coura]

Amazing

 

[Dan F]

Great find! I know those guys aren't as common as they use to be. I believe that is the only native turtle species in your state.

Close - we also have the Western Painted Turtle. Unfortunately these guys are very uncommon in this part of Oregon, their range has become pretty fragmented North of Eugene...

I talked to a state biologist last night. I am e-mailing her pictures and measurements. She said she would have to talk to a colleague to find out the details on the turtles (where and when he was captured/marked). One thing she did tell me was that this guy is at least twenty years old, probably closer to forty!

I'll write back when I know more.

 

[BigCountry]

Setup a retirement home for him and keep it! hehe

20-40 years old....that is awesome....

 

[Noto]

Very cool! I've used marginal notching in some turtle population and movement studies. It's a very handy technique- cheap, easy to perform in the field, legible for several years post-marking, with little or no effect on the animal.