Where's the AOTY category for these?

10th non native invasive species of turtle taken from public waterways so far this year.

Sorry can't tell if mouth closed or open! 

Sorry can't tell if mouth closed or open! 

I have bunch in my pond that became refugees when the irrigation canal dried up this year. A couple even became road kill!

If anyone wants a pet?

I have bunch in my pond that became refugees when the irrigation canal dried up this year. A couple even became road kill!

If anyone wants a pet?

Are they all non native or are there any western pond turtles in your pond? If they are non native you should put an ad on craigslist for them, but make sure the people who adopt agree to not put them somewhere where they can escape back to a public waterway.

Red eared Slider?

They've become pretty invasive in Ca,  There's some really big ones in the ponds up behind Shadow Cliffs.

How do they taste?

How do they taste?

Like Mud, so I hear!! ...so you would like!

How do they taste?

Try this Turtle soup recipe, you might like it 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/turtle-soup-recipe.html

I've found maybe 3 in the past year.  10 just so far this year is pretty amazing!  Is there an Asian Market you could sell them to?  Perhaps a trade for something you would prefer to eat.

I've found maybe 3 in the past year.  10 just so far this year is pretty amazing!  Is there an Asian Market you could sell them to?  Perhaps a trade for something you would prefer to eat.

I target them. Mostly sliders but sometimes I get a few Eastern Painted Turtles. Got a spiny softshell one time. I just find homes for them and tell the people that they can't be re-released somewhere where they could make their way back into the system. I have a couple evenings free per week and in the spring before the weeds grow up I capture them. My count is around 20 now. I usually average about 50-70 per "season". It's actually pretty fun and keeps my casting accuracy up there.

Do you snag them?

Do you snag them?

Yep. It doesn't hurt them either. Thick scaly skin is incredibly resilient. The hook always falls loose in the net. The painted turtles are not as spooky and I can usually just creep and net them, or get a head of steam at a log if they're basking and scoop them before they're too deep.