1 Topic by mountainman

  • mountainman
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Jonesboro
  • Registered: 2005-10-07
  • Posts: 738

Topic: Alligator Snapping Turtle catching

A quick note about our exploits today...

Josh, Melissa, Dr. Trauth, and myself along with another grad student that y'all haven't met yet went to Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery to catch a few ASTs. They were attempting to raise/breed them but it never really got too far off the ground so they are now abandoning the project. Anyway, they were draining the pond and collecting the fish and we went to collect any turtles we found (clarification: when I say "collect" I don't mean kill. They will all remain alive.) We didn't know how many were left in there but we assumed there weren't many. As it turned out, we only found 4 small ASTs and a cooter. But still, its not every day you get to grab an AST! [size=9(even if it is small and only semi-wild and the temperature is only 40 degrees)[/size

The hatchery personnel are housing the turtles for right now, with plans of keeping one for educational purposes and releasing the other three and the cooter.

It's never worth it to communicate with people. --Jacob

The only difference between the government and the mafia is that the government calls its bill collector the “IRS” and the mafia calls its bill collector “Big Louie.” 

NOBAMA:  Keep the change.

2 Reply by Ryan

  • Ryan
  • Ryan
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Arkadelphia, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-07-15
  • Posts: 609

Re: Alligator Snapping Turtle catching

Sounds like a pretty good day! It may have been small cold ones, but hey...its an AST like you said. Awesome animals!

Any pics?

-Ryan

Mark 10:27

"Sympathy is no substitute for action." -  David Livingstone

3 Reply by TreeHugger

  • TreeHugger
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Jonesboro, AR
  • Registered: 2005-09-28
  • Posts: 105

Re: Alligator Snapping Turtle catching

I have pictures!!! I was there but, I see I am second to Josh. Gee, thanks Jonathan.
This is my first shot at posting pics... enjoy!!!

AST in water/mud before being wrangled...

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/Cottnblosm/IMG_1624.jpg

Josh with an AST...

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/Cottnblosm/IMG_1635.jpg

Jonathan with an AST. Even though it's not that big, you may want to keep your eyes open...

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/Cottnblosm/IMG_1636.jpg

Up close and personal...

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/Cottnblosm/IMG_1677.jpg

Missouri River Cooter...

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/Cottnblosm/IMG_1651.jpg

AST with 'luring worm' in mouth...

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s56/Cottnblosm/IMG_1672.jpg

It's either true, or it's not... --Josh Engelbert
It's called pacing yourself... --Jacob Sawyer
To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge it, requires brains. --Mary Pettibone Poole

Melissa Patrick
M.S. Student; ASU

4 Reply by OkieHerper

  • OkieHerper
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Copan, OK
  • Registered: 2004-10-21
  • Posts: 927

Re: Alligator Snapping Turtle catching

Does anyone else thing that Corey (the guy in the background with Jonathan) looks like he is trying to take a crap? Maybe he should view the diaper post, lol.

Josh

Josh Engelbert
Copan, OK

5 Reply by mountainman

  • mountainman
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Jonesboro
  • Registered: 2005-10-07
  • Posts: 738

Re: Alligator Snapping Turtle catching

Here's another shot of the group.

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q260/_Stan99/DSC01276Small.jpg
Photo by Stan Trauth

The mud was quite deep in some places so it was fun carrying an irritated AST while trying to walk through a foot of mud with your boots trying to come off. Anyway, after we got the turtles we helped the fishery guys collect the fish and we grabbed some crayfish, too.

And, Josh, what an awful thing to say about Corey [size=9(I'm just surprised he didn't fall over more than he did or get a hand bitten off).[/size

It's never worth it to communicate with people. --Jacob

The only difference between the government and the mafia is that the government calls its bill collector the “IRS” and the mafia calls its bill collector “Big Louie.” 

NOBAMA:  Keep the change.

6 Reply by mountainman

  • mountainman
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Jonesboro
  • Registered: 2005-10-07
  • Posts: 738

Re: Alligator Snapping Turtle catching

My eyes were open, Melissa. I was just looking down at the turtle!

Hey did you get a photo of Corey falling down in the mud? That would be great!

It's never worth it to communicate with people. --Jacob

The only difference between the government and the mafia is that the government calls its bill collector the “IRS” and the mafia calls its bill collector “Big Louie.” 

NOBAMA:  Keep the change.

7 Reply by mountainman

  • mountainman
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Jonesboro
  • Registered: 2005-10-07
  • Posts: 738

Re: Alligator Snapping Turtle catching

Melissa, don't be upset about being listed second to Josh. I listed Dr. Trauth third and didn't even give Corey's name!

It's never worth it to communicate with people. --Jacob

The only difference between the government and the mafia is that the government calls its bill collector the “IRS” and the mafia calls its bill collector “Big Louie.” 

NOBAMA:  Keep the change.

8 Reply by Ryan

  • Ryan
  • Ryan
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Arkadelphia, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-07-15
  • Posts: 609

Re: Alligator Snapping Turtle catching

hehehe....

-Ryan

Mark 10:27

"Sympathy is no substitute for action." -  David Livingstone

9 Reply by kaptainkory

  • kaptainkory
  • kaptainkory
  • Administrator
  • Offline
  • From: Bella Vista, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2002-04-16
  • Posts: 3,513

Re: Alligator Snapping Turtle catching

Congrads on making FieldHerpForum.com's Picture of the Week!

Kory Roberts: Email | Facebook | Flickr | Last.fm | YouTube

kaptainkory's Website