Call anyone tell me what is a turtle's natural predator?
I jog quite a bit around a lake near me and I constantly observe the turtles. I can't think of a natural predator in this lake.
Obviously the shell is a great defense.
Anyone?
ThanksRolo
                        
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Curious
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 Rolo |
Curious |
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Posts: 495 (07/05/09 06:46:15) |
Rolo |
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whitehillreptile |
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Posts: 151 (07/05/09 06:50:28) |
people, birds of prey, raccoons, dogs..... quite a few really. how big are the turtles? are you seeing them dead, or just seeing a lot live and wondering what
the predators could be?
"But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world...You are
responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." -- Antoine de Saint-Exupery --
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john E blue |
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Posts: 1418 (07/05/09 06:50:44)
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Raccoons can empty out a shell like Romano does his juicey-juice box.
--jb |
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Rolo |
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Posts: 496 (07/05/09 07:43:11) |
These look like your basic Box turtle; everything from babies to some size adults. It's a man made lake, so you have a stone wall that surrounds the lake
and the water drops down at least two feet from the wall. There is a small island on one end, big enough to fit around 50 cars. If a racoon was to eat one of
these guys I would think he would have to drop off the wall then probably swim to the island and have his dinner. I have been aournd this lake for around 35
years. I have never seen a racoon on the island.
Do you think the racoon can dive in the water, catch a turtle in the water or on the island, then climb up the wall and wander off? Rolo |
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Juice it |
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Posts: 26 (07/05/09 07:51:41) |
Box turtles don't swim so probably painted turtles. I agree, turtles that live on water banks are safer than the average box turtle. Fox would probably
make a meal of a box turtle as well.
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Kim Burge |
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Posts: 493 (07/05/09 09:47:11)
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Glad someone else mentioned man - via cars and exportation to Asia for food. Skunks, foxes, and rats are major predators in urban areas on turtle nests. Depending on their age large frogs (bullfrogs), snapping turtles, and opossums are other predators. Others are correct that box turtles don't hang out in lakes although they can spend a lot of time in the water - on the bottom since they can't swim.
Kim Burge
Southern Chondros |
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Rolo |
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Posts: 497 (07/05/09 10:15:36) |
Painted turtles …right... |
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thescottduncan |
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Posts: 103 (07/05/09 19:15:36) |
Kim Burge wrote:Funny! Yeah, I heard they can stay underwater indefinitely. Shells don't seem to be much of a defense at all. I've been herping a few times at this one national wildlife refuge, and we've found just as many empty shells as live turtles. Multiple species, all sizes (from baby box turtles and painted turtles to 12" river cooters). Around my house I think it's raccoons eating the painted turtles, I've seen them slinking about, and I've seen the empty shells too. I'm also pretty sure birds are dropping the smaller ones from a height to crack the shells. No fun being a turtle in my neck of the woods.
Scott
3.1 GTP's 4.4 BP's 0.1 California Kingsnake |
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