Overrun with turtles! - Ask Extension
Is it possible to have too many turtles in a pond? Our pond, which is small, maybe an acre? Spring fed. It just seems overrun with turtles. If I walk ...
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Overrun with turtles! #877706
Asked July 17, 2024, 7:00 PM EDT
Is it possible to have too many turtles in a pond? Our pond, which is small, maybe an acre? Spring fed. It just seems overrun with turtles. If I walk out to the bank right now, I bet I can see 25 or 30 pop up. I believe most if not all are painted turtles. We are trying to have bass and bluegill in there and I’m concerned there will be competition for food.
Grand Traverse County Michigan
Expert Response
Dear Raquel,
Thank you for using Michigan State University Extension Ask Extension with your turtle pond question. Your question is a first for me. Most people love lots of turtles. Painted turtles are the state turtle. Yes, there will be some competition for food but not completely as painted turtles are omnivores. if they can catch the smaller fish they will eat them. But most are fast enough to avoid being eaten.
If you have a natural fishless pond it is ok to keep it that way. If you want to stock fish that is your option. It will chaange the foodweb dynamics. You may have less turtles thriving. You can harvest or move some turtles out but that may not be the best approach.
Understand that without active maintenance aeriators, fountains and feeding, stocked fish don't always do well in small ponds. Sun fish (bluegill) are the most tolerant of shallow warm water. And even they frequently sucumb to low oxygen levels in the winter. Fish also contribute heavily to the nutrient load in the pond increasing the instance of algae blooms.
My personal recommendation is to learn to love the turtles in your fishless pond. They do have fun little individual personalities. Attached is some more information to help you make your decisions regarding managing your pond.
Here is a list of helpful websites about turtles and harvesting turtles:
Manual/2009-2010MichiganManual/Turtle-WEB.pdf
https://www.herprman.com/species/turtles/painted-turtle/
https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/Landowners_Guide/Resource_Dir/Acrobat/Species_Mgmt.pdf
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/freshwater-friends-who-s-under-that-shell
http://www.nauti-lasscritters.com/state-michigan.html
https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/Michigan
Thank you for using Michigan State University Extension Ask Extension with your turtle pond question. Your question is a first for me. Most people love lots of turtles. Painted turtles are the state turtle. Yes, there will be some competition for food but not completely as painted turtles are omnivores. if they can catch the smaller fish they will eat them. But most are fast enough to avoid being eaten.
If you have a natural fishless pond it is ok to keep it that way. If you want to stock fish that is your option. It will chaange the foodweb dynamics. You may have less turtles thriving. You can harvest or move some turtles out but that may not be the best approach.
Understand that without active maintenance aeriators, fountains and feeding, stocked fish don't always do well in small ponds. Sun fish (bluegill) are the most tolerant of shallow warm water. And even they frequently sucumb to low oxygen levels in the winter. Fish also contribute heavily to the nutrient load in the pond increasing the instance of algae blooms.
My personal recommendation is to learn to love the turtles in your fishless pond. They do have fun little individual personalities. Attached is some more information to help you make your decisions regarding managing your pond.
Here is a list of helpful websites about turtles and harvesting turtles:
Manual/2009-2010MichiganManual/Turtle-WEB.pdf
https://www.herprman.com/species/turtles/painted-turtle/
https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/Landowners_Guide/Resource_Dir/Acrobat/Species_Mgmt.pdf
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/freshwater-friends-who-s-under-that-shell
http://www.nauti-lasscritters.com/state-michigan.html
https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/Michigan
Oh and we do have aerators too. ;)
Rp
There are bass in the pond that we planted. And believe me when I say that I adore the turtles - it’s my husband who thinks there are too many. I was hoping to get an expert opinion that I could reassure him that they were fine and to leave them alone … so thank you!!
(Side note: just googling this same question gives the response that turtles WILL compete with fish for food and even eat the eggs/babies that spawn…)
Either way, I appreciate your additional insight and the links. I will definitely read up.
Have a great weekend!!
Raquel
Good luck. If you already are managing for fish, then I would not over worry about the turtles. Mother nature has a way of balancing things out. There are so many animals that prey on turtle eggs that I am personally happy to hear that you have 20 turtles in your pond.
