SPCA of Diamondhead Mississippi

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Turtles Terrorizing Ducks & Geese

For quite a while now there has been a problem with Snapping turtles maiming and/or killing the ducks in the large duck pond near the Community Center. The end of September, the SPCA received a frantic phone message from a resident who was witnessing a huge snapping turtle attack one of the domestic geese at the pond. The caller was terribly distressed reporting that the goose was struggling, screeching and her children were crying. Thelma spoke with Toni Grey, Vice President, about the incident. Since Toni lives adjacent to the pond, she explained that she had been aware of the problem for years and has wanted to do something about it. This is the first time a resident has asked for our help, so Toni proceeded to find a solution to the over population of the Snapping Turtles. Toni called the POA office and was told to contact Wildlife and Fisheries because the POA does not get involved with relocating wildlife. Subsequently, she spoke with Robert Jones of the Museum of Natural Sciences in Jackson. He understood the problem completely and even told her that he has a video of a Snapping Turtle grabbing a porcupine, killing it and eating it. He explained that these turtles can grow to be 50 pounds or more and the females can lay up to 100 eggs. Mr. Jones wrote a letter to the POA office explaining the process that could be followed to reduce the population of the Snapping Turtles. He recommended a professional trapper affiliated with USM in Hattiesburg. The POA office reiterated their position regarding the relocation of wildlife. Toni felt that she needed to bring the problem to the attention of the POA Board. They invited her to speak at the POA Membership meeting on October 19. Toni began her address by reminding everyone that the pond was a beautiful and peaceful introduction to Diamondhead and that families love feeding the ducks and geese. She noted that currently there is only one duck, one little mallard, three Muscovy's, one of which is limping and six domestic geese, two of which are crippled. She explained to the residents that the turtles would not be killed....only relocated. The trapper will not remove all the turtles, just reduce the population. The S.P.C.A. agreed to pay the trapper’s fee and all she needed from the POA Board was their approval. The Board did approve the proposal with the caveat that the trapper is self-insured and that he will sign a release of liability from the POA. Unfortunately, the weather has turned too cool to trap turtles effectively now because they descend to the bottom of the pond for the winter. They will ascend in the Spring. The trapper has scheduled the job for March.