Survey Procedures: Turtle Trapping

Minnesota's Amphibian and Reptile Distribution Maps

Turtle traps are baited and set in emergent marsh habitats. Hoop traps of various sizes are often used with leads that guide turtles into the trap entrance. Binoculars and spotting scopes are also used to scan wetlands and riparian habitats for basking turtles.

Blanding's turtle.

Baited hoop traps are set in shallow wetlands to capture turtles such as Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii), a threatened species in Minnesota. Photo by C. D. Hall.

a hoop trap for capturing turtles.
Hoop traps are baited to attract turtles. Photo by C. D. Hall.

a hoop trap for capturing turtles.
A hoop trap set to capture turtles. Photo by Carol Hall

checking a hoop trap for turtles
Turtle traps are checked on a regular basis. Photo by Carol Hall

collecting data on a captured turtle
Data is taken on captured turtles (such as measurements and weight) before release. Photo by Carol Hall

measuring a Blanding's turtle
Measurements taken on a Blanding's turtle. Photo by Kelly Pharis