Iowa’s Commercially Harvestable Turtle Species Painted TurtleCommon Snapping Turtle Spiny Softshell Turtle Smooth Softshell Turtle Food Pets

Iowa’s Commercial Turtle Harvest Receives Attention  March 11, 2009 – The Center for Biological Diversity et al. petitioned the State of Iowa requesting immediate repeal of commercial turtle harvest  April 2009 – The Fishing & Aquaculture Association submitted a rebuttal paper  May 2009 – The DNR Natural Resources Commission voted to deny CBD petition and instructed the DNR Fisheries Bureau to review status of Iowa turtle populations.  Thereafter – The Iowa DNR formed Joint Committee on Turtle Harvest to review turtle program from an unbiased scientific standpoint & recommend regulations & program changes if necessary. A final report termed “The White Paper” was drafted.

Longevity by species Age (yrs.) * * *Not well-studied

Age at maturity by species Age (yrs.)

Paint Common Snapper Spiny Softshell Smooth Softshell 12 eggs (Late May-June) 30 eggs (May 15-June) 18 eggs (June 15-July) Mean Clutch Size 2-3 per year 1 per year 18 eggs (June 15-July) SpeciesFrequency 1 per year

80% Predators include furbearers such as raccoon, skunk, fox, mink, opossum, etc., and avian predators such as crows and grackles. Domestic animals such as dogs and cats also prey on turtle nests. Average Nest Predation Rate

Habitat Loss  Less than 5% of Iowa’s wetland acres remain from pre- settlement  69% of Iowa’s landscape was in active row crop production or urban in 2007  Channelization & sedimentation of rivers and streams contribute as well

Has the construction of farm ponds helped turtle populations rebound in the face of disappearing wetlands, channelization, and sedimentation? Iowa’s Farm Pond Stocking Program Average = 828 acres per year Program Existence = 40 years TOTAL = 828 X 40 = 33,120 ACRES* *Not all of this acreage was new pond construction Iowa’s Wetland Loss PRE-SETTLEMENT ACREAGE = 1.8 MILLION ACRES Post-Settlement = 90,000 acres Wetland Farm Pond

Iowa Commercial Turtle Harvesters by Year Maximum = 179 in 2012 Number

547 8, ,318 1, , , , ,462 1,916 1,713 1,612 3,899 1,9311, , , ,491 4, ,919 1, ,615 3, , ,844 3,244 1, , , , , , ,217 4, , , , ,274 1, , Turtle Harvest (lbs.) all Species by County , ,362 1,638 21

1,305 1, , , ,499 1, , ,343 1, , , ,229 2,696 3,719 1, ,149 2, , ,517 1, , ,939 5, ,367 5,905 3,927 2,619 5,548 1,978 5,420 1,998 2, ,8715, , , , ,792 1, ,863 1, ,461 2,016 8, ,361 1,099 8,494 2,055 3,613 1, , ,380 Turtle Harvest (lbs.) all Species by County 1, ,256 2,851 1, ,731 1,

Common Snapper Harvest Maximum = 203,156 lbs. in 2007 Harvest (lbs.)

Softshell Harvest Maximum = 46,696 lbs. in 2002 Harvest (lbs.)

Painted Turtle Harvest Maximum = 4,505 lbs. in 2004

“The Chinese Markets are a black hole for turtles. With turtles gone from many parts of Southeast Asia, researchers say dealers are now starting to look elsewhere. The tentacles of that octopus have spread all the way to North America.“ -Dr. John Behler, Freshwater Tortoise & Turtle Specialists Group “Indeed the export of turtles from the U.S. has soared. By 1995, the U.S. was shipping out more than 84,000 map turtles, 23,000 snapping turtles, and 38,000 softshell turtles each year—increases of fivefold to fortyfold since Craig Hoover, Program Officer for TRAFFIC North American Office May 4, 1999 TODAY NEARLY 1 MILLION

Biologists are becoming increasingly concerned that turtle populations in the United States cannot sustain such harvests, especially given the lack of regulation. "Unless they're listed on the Endangered Species Act, there's no Federal law protecting turtles. State laws are spotty.” –Dr. Susan Lieberman, Chief of the Office of Scientific Authority for the USFWS in Washington. May 4, 1999

XX X XX X X X XX X X X- OntarioX X No commercial turtle harvest X Limited waters X Season, size limits, other rules

Proposed Closed Season (January 1 - July 15)  Limits overall harvest via closure during portion of peak capture period (summer)  Protects critical nesting period from May-July Allows females to nest before they’re subject to harvest  Prevents females from being harvested from roadways Large, adult females can be removed from population  Large females produce the biggest and most eggs (resulting in the most “fit” hatchlings) This activity can skew sex ratios towards male  Limits harvest from overwintering colonies (January- February)

Harvest (lbs.) Average Monthly Turtle Harvest ( )

Average Monthly Turtle Harvest ( ) Harvest (lbs.)

Commercial Turtle Harvesters Opinion Survey % No 42% Yes % No 36% Yes Question 4. Favor a harvest season?

Harvest Season - Increases potential for new recruits

Questions???