AGFD Turtle Trapping at the Phoenix Zoo

An exciting and interesting opportunity to get hands-on experience performing wildlife management and public outreach. The 2015 turtle trapping will be Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, the weekend before World Turtle Day (May 23^rd), and as always, we need our volunteers to help us with the effort!  

Here’s what we are doing and why: It’s estimated that every year, hundreds of unwanted pet turtles are released into the “moat” in front of the zoo. This population of turtles undergoes annual trapping efforts to reduce their chances of traveling to nearby canals and the Salt River where they could out-compete with, spread disease to, or prey on native turtles and other native aquatic wildlife. During the trapping, all captured turtles are measured, weighed, identified to species and sex, and uniquely marked. Female nonnative turtles are removed from the pond and placed with the Phoenix Herpetological Society. Native turtles and male nonnative turtles are returned to the pond.

Volunteer positions are:

Providing outreach to the public on why releasing pet turtles could be harmful

The outreach is performed under a gazebo at the beginning of the bridge into the zoo where we’ll have several of the nonnative species commonly trapped in the pond on display, plus handouts and brochures. We also have outreach volunteers on the bridge to talk about why there are boats and traps in the water, explain why we’re trapping, and answer questions. We encourage children and adults to volunteer for outreach positions and will provide all of our outreach volunteers with the messages we want to get across to the public, so you will know what to say and how to approach the public. 

Although performing outreach may seem less “glamorous” than setting and checking traps, it is by far the most important position because it’s our chance to provide a message about the harm of releasing pets into the wild and the importance of responsible pet turtle ownership.

We have 3 outreach shifts available on Sunday, May 17th. You may sign up for more than one shift. If you want a break between shifts, you can choose to walk around the zoo–you get free entry into the zoo on the day you volunteer – however, if you have an afternoon shift, please don’t wear yourself out in the zoo in the morning before your shift.

• 8-10 AM              Outreach
• 12-2 PM              Outreach
• 4-6 PM                Outreach

Once all the traps are checked, volunteers from outreach have the opportunity to assist at the turtle processing station.

If you or your family would like to help out, please let me know

Shift(s)

• Names of everyone in your group, and
• Ages of any children.

We have a limited number of positions available, and they’ll be filled on a first-come first-served basis. The deadline for sign-up is May 5^th; after that, I’ll make the opportunity available to employees within the AZ Game and Fish Department who are interested.

For more information on Arizona’s nonnative turtles and why we trap turtles at the zoo pond each year, visit our nonnative turtle page. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Cristina Jones (turtlesproject@azgfd.gov), and thanks for all you do for turtles in Arizona!

Cristina A. Jones                   

Turtles Project Coordinator

Turtles Project   |  Nongame Wildlife Branch   |  Arizona Game & Fish Department

5000 W. Carefree Hwy, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000

turtlesproject@azgfd.gov   |   www.azgfd.gov/turtle