Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I helped a friend release a medium sized snapping turtle into a reservoir at the bottom of a waterfall outside of my office (i work off of 2222 between 360 and 620 here in austin) about 4-8 weeks ago (i really cant remember exactly when). there is concern that it will not survive the winter due to it being domesticated and failing to go into hybernation. If I need to I am fully prepared to go in there and retreive her (water is maybe knee deep). If not I need to let some other guys I work with know so they do not remove her from what otherwise should be a perfect natural habitat (we used to have a turtle down there before the property owners decided to try and change the waterfall into a permanent artificial water fall. they were stopped by the city) please tell me what to do. i dont want to let her die, but do not want to remove her if she is safe and happy.

Michael Fruge

also, i work with a herpatologist who tells me it probably wont be a problem...looking for a second opinion.

I would never be cavalier enough to call any snapping turtle domesticated. LOL!!!

Seriously - if the animal has adequated depth of water (which it seems to by your description) and there are prey items (fish, ducklings worms etc.) that are in this pond for the warmer months when it is active. I really doubt that you have anything to worry about. If the animal has a had a little time to acclimate it will submerge itself and hibernate without any problem. The main thing is that there is sufficient food to support it when it is active. (believe me it will know how to feed itself without any problem)

ok, so the real issue than is whether or not there is adequate enough food. i am thinking that there probably is, i mean we use to have a turtle there befroe like i said in my previous post. i work with a herpatologist whol told me he had seen some crayfish down there, but he was a little worried about the food supply as well.

That would be my concern. I would check to see that there are fish and things in the water (frogs, ducks, crayfish) anything that this animal could hit on for food. If you see these things then it should be fine.