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Saving Snapping Turtles.

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 8:39 am
by Karl Egressy
I talked to a lady by chance who told me that they have a club in Guelph area where I live.
Their mission is to save as many turtles by digging out their eggs from the gravel shoulder of the road
running along Ponds and make them hatch and return them to the ponds. 
(Saving them from parking cars and predation of Raccoons)
I observed two Signets at the pond with their parents where I met the lady just to see them disappear in a few days.
Same observation with Mallard babies. First two of the six then all in a few days time.
Do you think it is a good idea to give a helping hand to the Snapping Turtle population?
How about Birds?

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:21 am
by SantaFeJoe
That's a controversial subject. Removing the eggs and hatching them can affect the ratio of males/females, since temperature of eggs being incubated determines the sex of hatchlings. Why not just fence off the nests so that the nest is not run over or damaged? Regarding raccoons, that's just nature. Same for the loss of signets and ducklings. I prefer to let nature remain natural unless human intervention is critical to survival of a species.

Joe

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 9:51 am
by SantaFeJoe
Hero or not? Here's one from another part of Canada:

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/canada-ca ... ght-video/

The text tells a story.

Joe

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 10:08 am
by Karl Egressy
Thanks Joe.
Interesting reading.

Re: Saving Snapping Turtles.

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 7:23 pm
by Mark Picard
Karl - There's a reason that momma Snapper lays about 50-100 eggs - because most of them will get eaten by all sorts of creatures including Raccoons, Coyotes, and Foxes.  She's counting on that a few will survive the attack and eventually hatch out and make it back to the safety (somewhat) of the water. Same goes for all the Ducks and Geese - they'll lose many to the Snappers! It's Mother Nature at her cruel but fascinating best. My instinct in those situations is to help out the animal, but after I stop and think about it, I usually let nature take its' course. If I can save something easily I must admit I usually do it. It's a cruel world out there most of the time, and if you love Nature like I do you will struggle with this issue. Snapping Turtles aren't endangered, Ducks and Geese aren't endangered, so I figure Mother Nature is keeping the delicate balance of all these creatures pretty good! 

Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:50 am
by Karl Egressy
Hi Mark,
Thanks for your comment.
I feel the same way most of the time.
We just observe and let nature take its course.
Human intervention backfires many times.