TURTLE TALLY

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Summer is almost upon us and as the weather starts to warm up, reptiles are becoming much more active. As well as our native reptile species, non-native turtles are now being spotted across the UK and researchers are calling on members of the public to support vital monitoring programmes.

Turtle Tally UK was established in 2018 to help document the introduced turtle species that inhabit the UK’s waterbodies. As a Citizen Science Project, the initiative asks members of the public to support research by providing details of turtle sightings across the country. This data is crucial in tracking introduced species and understanding the welfare concerns and potential ecological impact of non-native turtles. Led by Suzie Simpson, HE Programme Leader and Animal Management Lecturer at Hadlow College and in conjunction with the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, the scheme aims to assess the invasiveness of non-native turtles and how the release or escape of captive animals affects welfare.

Previously, Turtle Tally was a monitoring programme which last year recorded 225 sightings, including 12 from anglers across the UK. Expected hotspot areas include London, Manchester, Liverpool and Cardiff. Naturally, these urbanised areas will see a higher footfall of people reporting sightings but could also represent greater numbers of escaped pets. Data is also limited in the West Country and Scotland citizens from these regions are encouraged even more so, to report their sightings.

The most commonly spotted turtles and terrapins are the red-eared and yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys sp.) due to their bold basking behaviours. However, more cryptic species such as common musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus) and soft shells (Pelodiscus sinensis) have been spotted in the past.

Since its inception, Turtle Tally has been solely focused on monitoring and data collection. “This year, a very small number of non-native turtles will be removed to receive a health screening” explained Suzie Simpson, Project Lead for the Turtle Tally. “We will be screening to assess whether these turtles harbour any diseases or parasites as well as check the overall body condition of the animal. This information will then be compared with captive turtles to understand the impact and potential detriment of releasing these animals into the wild. Turtles that have been removed and checked will then be rehomed into dedicated turtle sanctuaries. Citizens are encouraged not to remove the turtles themselves.

Suzie continued: “There are many myths around turtles and terrapins in the UK, often associated with their impact