Accidentally Hooked A Turtle

Accidentally Hooked A Turtle

By Kelly Wallace

So you accidentally hooked a turtle while fishing, you wouldn’t be the first.

Turtles can easily be tricked by bait intended for fish. Once a turtle is hooked, it may further complicate matters by swallowing the hook and/or entangling itself in the fishing line during desperate attempts to get free.

In years gone by, if a turtle happened to get caught, this was often dealt with by cutting the line and returning the turtle to the water. Veterinarians and licensed wildlife rehabilitators do not support this practice, and it has since been proven to be harmful to turtles and detrimental to their species.

Should you catch a turtle while fishing, it is crucial that you not cut the fishing line. Returning a turtle to the water with a hook intact or with an injury sustained from this could affect a turtle’s ability to eat and go about daily life and, soon after or in time, prove fatal to the turtle. If a hook ends up being swallowed, it could get lodged in the turtle’s throat or stomach; this would be incredibly agonizing for a turtle and could prove fatal. Untreated internal injuries, malnourishment, and/or infections can lead to a sickly, diseased turtle, affecting bodily functions, reproductive capabilities, and in some cases, the health of other turtles and the water body they are located.

Removing A Hooked Turtle From The Water

Remain calm and avoid pulling on the line or attempting to reel in the turtle if at all possible. Placing additional pressure on the hook could cause it to set in deeper, making removing the hook or entangled line more difficult. If you are on the shoreline or a dock, gently and slowly reel in the line until you can reach the turtle. If you are in a motorized or non-motorized water vessel, move closer to the turtle. If a net on hand will accommodate the size turtle caught, gently lift the turtle out of the water with the net. If not, grasp the turtle by the back of its shell and ease it out of the water. Do not lift the turtle out of the water by the fishing line or tail.

Once the turtle has been landed, please place it in the catch of the day box or open-topped, empty ice-free cooler. Do not add water. A stressed or injured turtle unable to raise its head above the water’s surface without effort runs the risk of drowning. Avoid placing the hooked or entangled turtle in direct sunlight, as overexposure could result in overheating and dehydration. It is imperative that the fishing line not be cut at any point. If the line is broken, the turtle may swallow your fishing tackle and the remaining free line completely, rendering removal of the life-threatening gear tricky, if not impossible.

When a fishing hook cannot easily be removed, a vet or licensed wildlife rehabilitator should remove the hook. An X-ray will be required if the turtle has swallowed a hook. If you cannot remove the hook from the turtle, leave it intact, or if there are injuries from the fishing line, please call the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC) home of Ontario’s turtle hospital at 705-741-5000 ASAP.

The OTCC provides medical care for turtles at “no” charge and can arrange transportation to get to the turtle hospital or nearest first responder if you cannot drive the turtle there. A trained staff member will guide you through how the turtle should be cared for while transportation is being arranged.

How To Avoid Hooking A Turtle

The most effective practices to avoid accidentally hooking a turtle on your fishing line are location, bait consideration, and gear modification.

Location: The best way to avoid accidentally hooking a turtle is to stay in designated fishing areas and avoid turtle hot spots. If you are visiting a community and need help determining whether turtles populate a body of water, ask around.

Avoid fishing in heavily vegetated areas. Both fish and turtles hide in thick weeds and reeds that serve as a protective covering. If you see a turtle near your fishing spot, stop fishing and wait for the turtle to pass. Better yet, consider fishing in another location you suspect or know is less frequented by turtles.

Bait Consideration: When considering fishing, it is important to keep in mind that live bait used to attract fish is just as likely to attract turtles if fishing in a location inhabited by turtles. Through no fault of their own, turtles are doing what comes naturally when a food source of interest is on offer. Consider using fishing lures less appetizing to turtles to discourage them from taking an interest and possibly getting hooked.

Gear Modification: The best advice about fishing gear is to use a “barbless” hook to reduce and prevent the chances of injuring a turtle or causing a fatality. This will not help you avoid turtles altogether, but turtles are not easily caught with hooks that do not have barbs. Using hooks without barbs can help prevent freshwater turtle injuries and mortality and maintain healthy turtle populations. This, in turn, helps to maintain a healthy lake and fish population as the turtles play a significant role in both.

Turtles are protected under the Ontario Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act, Ontario Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). It is vital to handle turtles with care and release them unharmed. If you need help with what to do, contact local wildlife authorities or organizations for guidance on safely handling and releasing turtles. Safeguarding turtles from harm is integral to ensuring future generations of turtles. Visit the “Education Resources” page on the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative website to read more about this topic. Reaching out to the OTCC if need be will turn your unexpected catch of the day into an epic fishing tale for you to share and no doubt make you a hero in the eyes of many.

To contact the author e-mail thinkturtle@yahoo.com or visit the Think Turtle Conservation Initiative website at http://www.thinkturtle.ca

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