Non Native Turtle Caught

This past weekend a Rock Springs angler was fishing at Meadow Lake and snagged what appeared to be a turtle using a lure. After contacting Game and Fish officials, the angler brought the turtle to the Green River office of the Game and Fish so it could be identified. The turtle was identified as an alligator snapping turtle. Certainly, not a Wyoming native species. As a matter of fact, there are no native turtle species in Wyoming west of the Continental Divide. “This is just another example of people bringing another nonnative species into Wyoming to keep as their pet and then letting the animal loose when they don’t want it anymore,” said Mark Zornes Green River wildlife management coordinator. “We have a bunch of folks bringing non- natives in. With each population boom we seem to see a new species, or two. This latest species is threatened in much of its native range in the southeast and moving this turtle impacts both Wyoming and the state it was removed from.”
“Reptiles are favorites of the legal and illegal pet trade,” Zornes said. “So far this summer, the department added two new reptiles; an albino corn snake or Great Plains rat snake, and now this alligator snapping turtle.“ Last year I had two Mediterranean geckos brought into the office that hitched a ride in potted plants,” Zornes said. “We are already dealing with illegally introduced burbot (a.k.a. ling) and zebra and quagga mussels now live in waters of neighboring states. If you see or catch any species you believe to be out of place contact the nearest Game and Fish regional office. The Green River Game and Fish office phone number is 307-875-3223 and the Pinedale Game and Fish office phone number is 307-367-4353.