HOOKED A TURTLE
ACCIDENTALLY HOOKED A TURTLE
Every year, turtles are accidentally hooked on fishing lines and returned to the water with the hook intact. This practice can be harmful to turtles. We want to let anglers know what to do if they accidentally hook a turtle, how to avoid catching it, and what resources are available to assist in such circumstances.
During the spring, summer, and fall, we all enjoy spending as much time as possible outside, engaging in all recreational activities. These include fishing, boating, and using personal watercraft. It is essential to remember the natural spaces we rely on to partake in these activities are home to turtles and other wildlife. As such, unexpected encounters are bound to happen when venturing into the lakes and waterways. Knowing this, we each must make concerted efforts to minimize and prevent the negative impacts the outdoor activities we engage in can have on turtles and other wildlife.
Please help protect Ontario's turtles by reading and sharing the information in this post.
HOOKED A TURTLE
In years past, if a turtle was accidentally hooked on a fishing line, it was often dealt with by cutting the line and returning the turtle to the water. This practice, supported by accredited veterinarians and licensed wildlife rehabilitators, has since been proven harmful to turtles caught on a fishing line and detrimental to their species. Imagine the pain and suffering a turtle could endure with a hook lodged in its throat or stomach. This is the reality we aim to change.
The province reports that over 1.5 million anglers (locals, seasonal residents, and non-resident visitors) fish in Ontario's 250,000 lakes, 100,000 km of rivers, and other waterways yearly. The amount of time attributed to recreational fishing each year is estimated to be 14.4 million days and 74.6 million hours. That is potentially a lot of fishing lines going into the water, and with that comes the possibility of many turtles being accidentally hooked.
The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC), home of Ontario's turtle hospital, reports that there are a surprising number of turtles admitted each year as a result of vehicle strikes or non-fishing related injuries that, when examined, x-rays often show a fishing hook and line swallowed at some point. This alarming development confirms that anglers are still cutting fishing lines and returning turtles to the water in peril of the health concerns this poses. Returning a turtle to the water with an intact hook or injury sustained from this could soon after or, in time, prove fatal to the turtle accidentally caught.
If you accidentally hook a turtle while fishing please do not cut your fishing line!
A fishing hook left intact could affect a turtle's ability to eat and perform routine activities. If a hook were to be swallowed, it could get lodged in the turtle's throat or even its stomach; this would be exceptionally agonizing for a turtle and prove fatal. Untreated internal injuries, malnourishment, and infections can lead to a sickly, diseased turtle, affecting bodily functions, reproductive capabilities, and, in some cases, the health of other turtles and bodies of water.
TIPS TO AVOID HOOKING A TURTLE
Mindful consideration of location, bait, and gear is the most effective practice to avoid accidentally hooking a turtle on your fishing line.
Location Consideration
The best way to avoid accidentally hooking a turtle is to stay in designated fishing areas and steer clear of turtle hot spots. If you are visiting a location and need help determining whether turtles populate a body of water, ask around. People who reside in the community are a wealth of information in this regard and are typically happy to offer assistance, knowing you are looking out for the local turtle population. By being mindful of these factors, you can contribute to the well-being of our turtle friends.
Avoid fishing in heavily vegetated areas. Both fish and turtles hide in thick weeds and reeds that serve as protective covering.
If you see a turtle near your fishing spot, stop fishing and wait for the turtle to pass. Better yet, consider fishing in another location you suspect or know to be less frequented by turtles to minimize and, ideally, avoid hooking a turtle on your fishing line.
Bait Consideration
When considering fishing, it is essential to remember that live bait used to attract fish is just as likely to attract turtles as fishing in a location inhabited by turtles. Through no fault of their own, turtles do what comes naturally when a food source of interest is available.
Turtles are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. Turtles consume a variety of vegetation and scavenge for carrion, meaning they eat the rotting plant and animal matter (carrion) and refuse in lakes and other bodies of water. This makes turtles extremely important because they act as janitors to the lakes and other bodies of water. Snapping turtles, in particular, being the most giant freshwater turtles in Ontario, are, in fact, vital for this purpose. If turtles were not present and cleaning the lakes this way, this would be comparable to road kill on the highways not being cleaned up and being allowed to pile up, creating an unhealthy environment.
The turtles' scavenging activities rid the water of decaying carcasses that would otherwise pollute waterways and prevent excess bacteria build-up and waterborne parasites. If compromised, the heath of a body of water can result in recreational water illnesses and waterborne parasites such as swimmer's itch that can affect people and beloved pets that venture into the water. The turtle's role in this regard is far-reaching. It contributes to maintaining the health of the lakes and bodies of water, promoting a healthy fish population that provides food for people and wildlife, recreational opportunities, and aesthetic benefits for people to enjoy. It is also vital to biodiversity, particularly in a wetland environment.
Turtles are apt to do what comes naturally, and they are apt to go after your bait, mainly if you use a live or organic type. If you use chicken gizzards, chopped-up beef pieces, or a cut-up fish as bait, you ask a turtle to come to your line. Turtles are fond of worms, and fishing with live worms may also give turtles a reason to be interested.
Using live bait in an area known to be inhabited by turtles is like throwing a dog a bone. Please consider using lures. They are less tasty to turtles and can discourage them from taking an interest and possibly getting hooked.
Gear Modification
The best advice about fishing and gear is to use 'barbless hooks' to reduce and prevent the chances of injuring a turtle or causing a fatality. This will not help you avoid turtles altogether, but turtles are not easily caught with hooks that do not have barbs. Using a barbless hook makes a big difference for turtles should a turtle find its way onto your hook.
You can easily purchase barbless hooks at any bait or outdoor shop selling fishing equipment. There are endless types of lures available, and information is available online to assist you in choosing the best lures to avoid accidentally hooking a turtle. Modifying your fishing gear, such as using hooks without barbs, can help prevent freshwater turtle injuries and mortality incidents. This, in turn, helps to maintain a healthy lake and fish population, as the turtles play a significant role in both.
Turtles can die by bleeding to death just by removing the hook, and most snapping turtles struggle when doing so, often causing more intense bleeding to occur. All options should be weighed out for both the angler and the turtle before attempting to remove hooks. Hooks kill turtles and fish, and it should never become a practice for anglers to leave hooks in either when they can avoid it.
Fishing Hooks
The old school thinking that a fish, and therefore a turtle, will be okay because the fish hook will 'dissolve' over time or they will shake it loose is not valid. Although some fish hooks are shaken away because they are irritating or may work their way free from a fish or a turtle, this outcome is not guaranteed. Even if this is the case, it could take considerable time, causing undue stress, injuries, and fatalities.
Fishing hooks decades ago may have deteriorated due to slowly rusting away or being unintentionally swallowed with ill effects. Today, fishing hooks are often manufactured from high-level steel, steel alloy with vanadium, or stainless steel, depending on the application. Most quality fish hooks are treated with a corrosion-resistant surface coating. The old thinking that fish or turtles have strong stomachs that will tolerate a hook rusting away or being swallowed is not the case.
Hooks marketed as biodegradable do not exist to date. There have been attempts, but we still await truly successful biodegradable hooks. Anglers report that the materials used need more strength, making them ineffective for fishing. Research and testing continue in this regard.
Note: Fishing tackle containing lead should be avoided. If ingestion by turtles or other wildlife, this can lead to fatal lead poisoning. Discarded lead can negatively impact the ecosystem.
TURTLE ON THE LINE
To prevent undetected injuries to turtles, please do not leave unattended fishing lines in the water at any time. A turtle accidentally hooked and not observed that breaks the line would then be left with a fishing hook or fishing line left intact. Such fishing practices could impact other aquatic wildlife.
Removing Turtle From The Water
If you accidentally hook a turtle please do not reel in the turtle!
This could cause the hook to set deeper, harm the turtle more, and make removing the hook more difficult. If a net on hand will accommodate the size of the turtle caught, gently ease the turtle out of the water with the net. If not, carefully grasp the turtle by the back of its shell and ease it out of the water. Please do not lift the turtle from the water by the fishing line or tail.
Should you attempt to remove the hook?
When a turtle is accidentally hooked, the hook (often barbed) can pierce or embed in the turtle's mouth, face, head, eye, or soft body parts. These situations can lead to mild to severe injuries, which can be further complicated by infection if not treated promptly. If a turtle has swallowed a hook, the consequences could be fatal. Attempting to remove a hook or tangled fishing line could cause more harm to the turtle and put the person at risk of a flesh wound or bite. A turtle should not be returned to the water with a wound, even if you remove the hook.
To ensure the best outcome for the turtle and your safety, leave the hook intact and immediately call the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC), home of Ontario's Turtle Hospital, at 705-741-5000 when you are with the turtle. We recommend that the Turtle Hospital medical team see and deal with such injuries. They will provide medical attention and transportation to get the turtle to the OTCC or the nearest first responder if you cannot drive it there. There is no charge for this service. The OTCC will also offer guidance on how the turtle should be cared for while transport is being arranged.
We understand that when you set out to go fishing, this differed from how you envisioned your outing. Fishing is a beloved pastime, and accidents can happen. However, unexpected situations can arise when you put a line in the water.
Although attempting to remove a hook from a turtle, especially a snapping turtle, is at your own risk, please think about the turtle and any further harm, stress, or future health concerns that could unintentionally be caused to it.
Removing The Hook (Small Turtle)
Distress, pain, and handling can very quickly stress a turtle. The longer a turtle is stressed, the weaker it will be and the longer it will take to recover. When stressed, expect any sized turtle to bite or scratch to escape because it is scared and in pain.
Do not attempt to remove the hook unless you're able to easily cut off the barbed end that is poking through the turtle's face or neck. Needle nose pliers usually work well to remove the hook. The turtle cannot retreat to its shell as you grasp the hook and gently curve it back the way it went in.
Be careful and alert. Even small turtles in distress can and will bite or scratch. With a small turtle, the hook can usually be removed by hand or pliers, as with fish, because the turtle is not strong enough to stop you. Wrapping the turtle's face and head with a cloth can help calm the turtle ever so slightly and for safety's sake. Remove the hook by hand or with pliers once you are safe from bites and scratches.
Please do not return a turtle with a wound sustained by a fishing hook to the water. Contact the Turtle Hospital at 705-741-5000 as soon as possible. If you are in the North Hastings area, you can alternatively contact Think Turtle at 647-606-9537 for assistance.
Removing The Hook (Snapping Turtle)
Note: When a fishing hook cannot be easily removed, a vet or trained licensed wildlife rehabilitator should remove it. If the turtle has swallowed a hook, an X-ray will be required.
A snapping turtle accidentally caught will panic and struggle and bite to escape. Anglers who have accidentally hooked a snapping turtle recommend wrapping it in a cloth, towel, jacket, or shirt to contain their limbs and calm them gently. Having a second person hold the turtle is best. With a pair of pliers (which most anglers keep handy) or, if necessary, by hand, gently remove the hook the same way it went in. Stay very alert! Snapping turtles are extremely strong. Keep fingers, hands, arms, etc., beyond a snapping turtle's long-necked reach.
Should attempts to remove the hook not work or you are not comfortable attempting any of the above, leave the hook intact and call the OTCC as soon as possible at 705-741-5000 when you are with the turtle.
IF YOU GET BIT
Snapping turtles will resort to defensive behavior on land if they feel threatened or are handled, injured in some way, or harassed. Do not be fooled by size except turtle hatchlings. Any sized turtle will readily bite perceived predators. Snapping turtles have the disadvantage of not being able to retreat into their shell like most other turtle species when they feel threatened because their plastron (under shell) is very small and not designed to accommodate this. This leaves them feeling vulnerable, thus causing them to resort to defensive behavior for self-preservation.
Whereas we use words as our first defense if we feel threatened, snapping turtles use their snap. Do not judge them harshly for this! In the water, snapping turtles usually swim away from threats.
It should be no surprise that attempting to remove a fishing hook from a snapping turtle or any turtle species would be stressful and could result in a turtle resorting to biting, scratching, and hissing in self-defense. Handling and holding the turtle away from your body is the key to preventing bites. Injuries are usually not severe if a bite should occur because snapping turtles don't have enough strength in their jaws to bite through bone. A turtle's mouth comprises the lower and upper mandibles (jaw), each beak-like and covered with a tough keratin layer. Turtles lack teeth but can tear or cut prey with their sharp beak, allowing them to inflict a flesh wound.
If a turtle latches on to you while attempting to remove a fishing hook, do your best to remain calm; do not pull or pry the turtle's mouth off you. This will frighten the turtle and could worsen the damage to your skin and cause the turtle more pain. To remove a turtle that has latched, try placing the turtle in water (not head) until the turtle lets go. Usually, a turtle will take this as a chance at freedom.
Once the turtle has released its grip, move away and allow it time to calm down. If you need to remove the turtle from the water because the hook is still intact or has sustained an injury, grasp it by the back of its shell and hold it away from your body. Be careful not to drop the turtle, as this could cause injury.
If bitten, please treat the wound ASAP! Turtles in the wild live in a much cleaner environment than a pet red-eared slider in captivity, living in their feces. The chances of contracting salmonella from a turtle in the wild are significantly reduced; however, as a precaution, any bite caused by a turtle that breaks the skin needs to be treated by a medical professional. Antibiotics and a thorough cleaning of the wound may be required. Wash the bitten area with soap and water if the skin is not damaged.
Under no circumstances should a snapping turtle that has bitten a person be killed. The minute a fishing line is put into the water, there is the potential this activity could result in hooking a turtle. It is the person fishing that caused the mishap. Should a turtle get caught, it is not the turtle's fault; please remember this. Upon death, a turtle's jaw, in response, will clamp down with even more pressure, which will cause more injury. A dead turtle cannot release their grip.
Under the Ontario Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act, harming or killing turtles or any at-risk species is a punishable offense, punishable by a fine of up to $25,000.
FISHING LINE, GEAR & TACKLE
Never leave your fishing gear or tackle behind!
Turtles can easily get swept up or entangled in tackle, lines, and nets left in the water, eventually killing them. A fishing line may also get wrapped around a turtle's neck and suffocate it, or it could get wrapped around the legs, get tangled, and cause serious injury. Other aquatic wildlife are also at risk of death from leftover fishing gear and tackle that finds its way into the water.
In addition to fishing hook injuries, some injuries can be caused by a turtle ingesting a fishing lure or getting tangled in a fishing line. Make sure not to leave any fishing tackle or line behind after fishing. Like us, turtles and other wildlife need a healthy, clean environment to thrive. Please do not discount any injury to a turtle due to fishing, ingesting a lure, or getting tangled in the fishing line as minor and not severe enough to require medical attention.
If a turtle has sustained injuries from swallowing a hook or getting tangled in a fishing line, please call the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre (OTCC), home to Ontario's turtle hospital, at 705-741-5000 when you are with the turtle.
BOATING & PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
A boat or personal watercraft strike can cause an injury to a turtle or result in death, especially if the strike involves a motor propeller. Turtle losses have a detrimental effect on a localized turtle population. If you venture into a lake, river, or pond that turtles inhabit, please be mindful of their presence. Boat strikes are usually accidental, but there have been incidences where turtles have been hit deliberately. Turtles are very much at home in the water and move faster than they do on land, so often, they can move out of a boat or watercraft; however, timing can occasionally work against them. If you accidentally hit a turtle or know of one struck or injured while in the water, please call OTCC immediately. Safeguarding turtles from harm is integral to species recovery efforts aimed at helping return this most vulnerable species to their former, healthy populations. Thank you!
If you have questions regarding this subject or any other turtle-related matters, please do not hesitate to contact Kelly at Think Turtle Conservation Initiative at 647-606-9537 (phone/text) or e-mail thinkturtle@yahoo.com. For more information, follow us on Facebook at thinkturtleci or check out our website at thinkturtle.ca.
POSTERS
The attached links are for posters made available by the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority and Canadian Wildlife Federation to help raise awareness. Please print off a few copies to hang up in your community at the local marina, boat launch, community boards, etc. This would be beneficial to the turtle population where you are situated.
Hooked A Turtle While Fishing
What To Do If You Hook A Turtle
https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/downloads/booklets-handouts/htt_fishhook_en_lr.pdf
Everyone has a role in protecting endangered species. Your help is valuable—it's invaluable in conserving turtles. We encourage you to share this information with your friends, family, and neighbors. Together, we can help turtles avoid various risks as we strive to ensure future generations of turtles.
Painted turtle accidentally hooked on a fishing line. Photo: Chantal Theijn