Ability to Respond Total:7 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:High
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Snapping turtles inhabit a wide range of freshwater and brackish habitats. Its indigenous range encompasses the entire eastern and central United States but now exists in scattered populations in every western state (other than AK & HI).
3
Spread Amount
Several populations are well established in waterways in central and southern California. Spread is likely to continue, especially in waterways with slow-moving shallow waters with a muddy or sandy bottom and abundant aquatic vegetation or submerged roots.
3
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
An omnivore, voracious predator that may threaten the survival of native animals, consume young game fish, compete with native turtles for food/cover, and may transmit parasites and diseases to which native turtles are not immune.
4
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
Snapping turtles derive their common English name from their violent antipredator behavior which involves snapping at an adversary while quickly lunging forward and extending its neck, potentially delivering a painful, damaging wound.
1
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
Popular stew meat, especially in the southeastern states.
1
Health
0
Total
10
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
They ae relatively easy to identify for the layperson, but locating them in their preferred habitat can be difficult.
3
Control
Once established in a region with ample water sources, complete eradication is unlikely.
1
Tools in Place
Notes
Score
Entry
Humans are the most likely mode of long-distance transportation. If you see a turtle walking on the land, it is probably not sick or lost, so the best thing you can do for the turtle is to leave it alone.
1
Control
Prohibitions on importation and transportation of Snapping turtles have been publicized and enforced by CDFG (listed in CCR Ttle 14 §671).
1
Outreach
Low awareness of CA public. Limiting transportation into new waterways via human activity is the most likely way to limit spread. Females may retain viable sperm for several years, so they do not necessarily need to breed with a male each year to produce viable eggs.
