Keeping Turtles Safe when Fishing
Thank you to Kathy for guest authoring this month’s blog post
Many of us are aware that Ontario’s turtle population is in decline. Turtles have survived for millions of years, but with loss of habitat, increased predator populations near humans, illegal poaching, and collisions with cars on increasingly busy roads, humans have made a drastic and negative impact on the 8 Ontario species of turtles.
The risks to turtles listed above isn’t even an exhaustive list! An often-forgotten risk from humans to turtles is through fishing. Thus, it is important to understand how to keep turtles safe while engaging in this common pastime.
Fishing is usually a quiet time out on the lake, often with family. The last thing anyone wants is the stress and concern of hooking a turtle. Being more mindful and aware will make the entire fishing experience a pleasant one for those fishing, but importantly for the turtles.
Ontario has the largest number of native turtles in Canada, which makes it easy to encounter one of the at-risk turtles while out on the water.
Courtesy of Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
Turtles burmate (a form of hibernation) over winter, becoming more active in the springtime when males seek a mate, then again in late May and June when females are on the move to find a suitable nesting area. They will remain fairly active through September and into October. This is a prime time for turtle and angler interaction to occur.
It is the painted, snapping, and softshell turtles who are most frequently injured by fishing activities. Snapping turtles are scavengers, making any type of bait fair game when it floats by. Painted and softshell turtles enjoy crayfish and other smaller aquatic animals and may mistake a lure imitating an insect or small aquatic animal as dinner.
Before you cast
Common snapping turtle lazily floating at the Toronto Zoo
Turtles are known to be very curious omnivores, eating both plants and animals as food. This may draw them to an area frequented by people fishing. Turtles are also opportunistic feeders and will grab a bite to eat if it is within reach / floating by. A turtle will often not seek out a lure but will be resting in a shallow weeded area when a lure is cast in its space.
The simplest solution is if you see a turtle in the area, onshore or in the water, or if there are signs turtles are known to nest or bask there, choose another place to fish.
When moving out of the turtle area, be aware of where the turtle is to avoid the turtle being hit by a motor prop. Ensure to reel in your lure while avoiding crossing through where the turtle was seen. If a turtle becomes entangled, do not cut the line. Try to carefully net the turtle and remove the fishing line. Leaving fishing line in the area, or still around the turtle may result in injury to the turtle or a slow death by drowning.
If the turtle happens to come into view while fishing, pull in the line slowly, and wait for the turtle to leave the area before you cast again. Make sure not to drop any bait or intentionally feed the turtle when it is visiting.
Recently a snapping turtle in Miskwabi Lake exhibited signs of being fed when it started to hang fearlessly around a dock, floating and looking up for food. While people may consider this type of encounter harmless, it is bad news for the turtle. Being a learned behaviour, it will require people in the area to recognize how harmful it is and discontinue feeding the turtle for several weeks, so the turtle doesn’t associate food with people, or fishing.
Two midland painted turtles basking.
Another way to avoid turtle interaction is to make sure you remain in designated fishing areas. Often Ontario Parks or other water stewards such as conservation areas know where turtles frequent. They will place signs in areas to decrease disturbance to the local turtles. These signs may designate a known nesting area.
Fish when it is cooler such as early morning or late evening. Fish in deeper waters as turtles prefer warmer, weedy, shallow areas. Species like painted turtles spend most of their time swimming and foraging underwater then bask to warm up. Other turtles, such as musk and snapping turtles, do not bask as often and will be found near shorelines and not in deeper colder waters. There is a good chance an angler will find a great spot to fish, without a turtle nearby, in the middle of the lake.
While you are fishing
X-ray of a northern map turtle who ingested a fishing hook. Photo curtesy of Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre
When fishing, using a barbless hook will help minimize the damage should a turtle accidentally strike at the bait. Unless the hook is outside of the turtle, do not try to remove the hook yourself.
This is when the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre or OTCC can help. If you suspect a turtle has swallowed the hook, call (705) 741-5000. The OTCC will provide, at no charge, medical care for the turtle, and has a network of volunteers to pick up and transport the turtle to the clinic in Peterborough.
In the Kingston area, you may bring a hooked turtle to the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre, located in Napanee. They are the local turtle rehab location collaborating with Turtles Kingston. If you cannot drive all the way to Napanee you can bring the hooked turtle to one of the participating veterinarian clinics in Kingston. As part of the turtle trauma program our volunteers will drive the turtle to Sandy Pines for you.
X-ray of a common snapping turtle who ingested a fishing hook. Photo curtesy of Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre
It has also been reported that using artificial bait, less smelly bait, or items not considered in the turtles’ regular diet could minimize attracting turtles to the line. Plastic worms, spinnerbaits, plastic topwater frogs, bass lures, and other turtle friendly bait lessens the risk of turtle inspection.
Combining artificial lures with night fishing further decreases the risk of turtles accidentally taking your bait. Not only does this practice reduce bait loss, but it is also easier to target the desired fish species which in turn improves your fishing experience, even if you are in a high turtle population area.
When fishing, always ensure not to leave bait and tackle behind. Take along lines and hooks if you see them in the water, even if they are not yours. A line left dangling off a dock is just asking for a hungry turtle to inspect it. Ensure lead is also avoided in sinkers, and tackle. One lead sinker ingested by a turtle may result in fatal poisoning.
Oh no!
Despite all your best practices and good intentions, an unseen turtle lying in the mud or weeds grabs on to your lure. This might happen and you will not even realize it is a turtle until reeling in. Most importantly, remain calm, and do not cut the line. Reel in gently and slowly to avoid embedding the hook in further and if possible, pick up the turtle with a net once close.
Inspect the turtle for the hook. If you can safely remove the hook in situations where it is visible on the outside of the shell or a foot, do so. However, if in doubt, call in the experts. If you are in a Provincial Park, alert park staff who can assist you in either removing the visible hook or connecting you with the OTCC or other turtle conservation group for advice and assistance.
Minimizing the stress on the turtle is important. Do not feed the turtle or attempt to give medical care. If the hook has been swallowed and line is visible out of the beak, leave it alone, do not attempt to pull on it.
The most important thing to remember is if the turtle has swallowed a hook, they need medical attention. No questions asked.
Responsible fishing
Turtles are experiencing population declines worldwide due to numerous human-caused threats. This makes the protection of adult turtles—especially breeding females—critical for species survival.
Losing one adult turtle has an impact on the species as they have a long lifespan, with delayed sexual maturity. One snapping turtle momma will have to live 58-60 years to replace herself in the wild. The average survival rate is that out of approximately 1400 eggs, only one will make it to maturity to reproduce.
Fishing competes with turtles in their habitat and sometimes anglers feel turtles compete unfairly, affecting the population of minnows used for bait, or snagging lines resulting in equipment loss, thus becoming unwelcome visitors disrupting the fishing experience. Anglers, especially for bass, have conflicting opinions when it comes to conservation measures and the protection of turtles. Turtles eat aquatic plants, which might be considered detrimental to fish habitat for spawning and shelter. Anglers often state turtles eat fish eggs and juvenile fish, impacting fish stocks. Are these valid concerns?
Well, let’s first acknowledge - we are fishing in the turtle’s habitat, removing their source of food, impacting their home environment.
When it comes to turtles and fishing they actually have many positive impacts:
turtles play a vital role in the biodiversity of lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds
turtles consume decaying plant and animal matter which contributes to the overall health of the aquatic ecosystem as eating dead and sick fish helps keep the bacteria in the water down
aging turtles many prefer to eat more plant matter, an easy food source as they slow down in activity, relying less on fish anglers’ may desire
snapping turtles eating vegetation will assist in spreading seeds of plants, improving the nutrient cycle of the lake or river
Hatchling midland painted turtle, about the size of a loonie coin.
Anglers often forget fish actually benefit from turtles. Aside from the benefits listed above, turtle hatchlings can become prey for carnivorous fish such as gar, large-mouth bass, and catfish! So, turtles preying on fish this is not a one-sided predator situation.
With an understanding that turtles and fish can and do live harmoniously together we need to remember to respect the turtles in their habitats! It is especially important to never relocate a turtle from its home or take a turtle from one body of water to another. This will be a death sentence to the turtle. Turtles live in a specific area and will try to return to that home, or struggle to find a safe place to brumate (overwinter) in a new one, resulting in death.
Grace, a 125-year-old turtle was removed from her home when the owner wished to fill in Grace’s wetland home. She was found dead a year later over fifteen kms away in a different body of water (read the story here).
Education and awareness will make turtle and human interaction a positive one, with less frustration for the angler, while respecting the turtle’s right to a long healthy life. Working with conservation groups, anglers can collaborate by creating turtle friendly zones, allowing turtles to remain safely in their habitat, and designate other areas of opportunity to fish.
Become involved by contacting Turtles Kingston (link below) or other organizations listed who are available to educate and assist so our turtles thrive, and anglers are a positive part of the solution.
Saving one turtle has an enormous significance in protecting these at-risk species. It is important anglers understand the impact of their activity on our native species and strive to leave as little trace as possible in our waterways.
Every rescue counts.
Organizations and Information links
Resources: Toronto Region Conservation Authority; Ontario Turtle; Mountain Trails Fishing; Back Cast Fly Fishing; Turtle Guardians; fishingandfish.com; OTCC; CBC.