Question on WI Snappers

[TheJD]

Hello all, this is my first post in the forums, although I've lurked around a couple times before. I basically want to get some second opinions on the WI Law regarding common snapping turtles to make sure I'm reading it correctly. The law is here

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/captive/HerpsRegs.pdf

I do have a fishing license and my understanding is I can catch them during the season listed and I can keep them as long as their shell is between 12 and 16 inches. So if I get a snapper between that size, I can infact keep it as a pet indefinately? I've never seen any snappers for sale at the local pet stores, but considering the size required, that would make sense. Thanks in advance for your time.

 

[Dan F]

Looks like you could possess up to 3 Snappers. The only thing that may be questionable is whether or not they would become illegal to possess once they grow larger than 16 inches.

As to pet stores not having them, it states that native herptiles may not be sold or bartered.

Good luck if you do decide to keep one. I love mine, but he is a big responsibility!

 

[Mystus Redtail]

I just want to say welcome to a fellow Wisconsinite. I don't know the answer to your question other than to say that snappers don't make very nice pets. They require a pretty good amount of space and can be dangerous. (I apologize if you already know this, I am obviously not aware of your level of experience with turtles.) The reason that you don't see them in pet stores is that native animals are not supposed to be sold as pets in WI.

Anyhow, GL with you question I just wanted to say Welcome!

 

[TheJD]

Thanks for the well wishes. Yeah, Dan, that's basically where I'm not so sure. It says you can possess them between those sizes but it makes little sense to force people to release them past a certain size after you've already held them in captivity. On the other hand, it can be interpreted that way.

 

[Dan F]

Thanks for the well wishes. Yeah, Dan, that's basically where I'm not so sure. It says you can possess them between those sizes but it makes little sense to force people to release them past a certain size after you've already held them in captivity. On the other hand, it can be interpreted that way.

Glad you finally made the leap and joined MFK. Be warned - It is highly addictive (Poor Bogwood Bruce may need to join a 12-step program if he doesn't watch out!)

I would talk to your local Department of Fish and Wildlife. I have kept a Common Snapper at our school (I'm a teacher) for five years. This summer I found out he is illegal to possess in the state of Oregon. After a somewhat lengthy process I just got my "Prohibited Species Permit" - this morning I notched his shell for ID purposes, as required by the permit.

Anyways, the only way to get a definitive answer is to talk to a DFW biologist (and don't forget to write down his/her name!). If you are indeed allowed to keep them I feel certain they wouldn't want you releasing an ex-pet into the wild.

Like Mystus Redtail said, Snappers are not an easy pet to care for. While I believe their ferocity and power are somewhat exaggerated, they can give a nasty bite (I am more leary of big constrictors). The space issue is a big one. I keep my snapper (about 12" carapace length) in a 300 gallon tank about 2/3 full of water. A 6x2 tank would probably be a minimum for that size turtle. A wild caught turtle may find just about any tank to be too cramped at first. Also, you may have trouble getting a wild-caught turtle to eat anything other than live food (Snappy lives off turtle sticks, mostly).

 

[andyjs]

Actually, for wild-caught snappers, the food doesn't have to be live as they often feed on carion, but it will likely have to be some sort of fish or maybe small crustaceans or mammals. At the fish hatchery I worked at, we had a public display area (basically a tiny public aquarium of natives) that includes 4 snappers (smallest about 10", largest around 28"). The two largest were wild caught at a pretty large size and are extremely aggressive. The two smaller ones on the other hand have been in captivity for probably half of their lives are more as they are young and they are fairly docile. Obviously I would never try to pet them on the head or anything, but I probably could. They will likely get a little more aggressive as they grow, but snappers really aren't that dangerous if handled properly. As far as the legality, I can't help you. At the hatchery, they have so many permits that we could collect and keep pretty much anything as long as it wasn't an endangered species.

 

[TheJD]

Well, I might as well be honest. I already have the snapping turtle, I've had him for almost four years now. The problem was I always asked about the laws on keeping turtles in WI, never realizing that there might be a special exception for snappers. Funny enough, I didn't find out about this until earlier this summer when a cable guy in my house asked whether snappers are legal or not, lol. So, I already have the turtle. I'm not comfortable with just releasing him since I've had him for so long, but at the same time, I doubt he'll have any troubles feeding himself in the wild, it's more so worried about him hibernating in the winter. He's soon approaching the 12 inch size so at that point I can at least pretend I caught him legally. I just feel bad about the whole thing, but I really don't want to lose him, he's my favorite pet.


Oh, his name is Epic and I keep him in a 210 gallon tank, although once I move out of this rental, I plan on doing some kind of kiddie pool conversion or outdoor pond. I feel him turtle pellets, fish, and crayfish on a regular basis. Even a cooked chicken breast on ocassion. I'm tempted to get chain mail gloves for handling him though now that he's getting pretty big.