Talking Turtle with Maine’s IFW

Here is the transcript of my e-mail conversation with Jonathan Mays with the Reptile, Amphibian, & Invertebrate Group at the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. It serves to provide additional information and clarification around the laws and regulations concerning the trapping of snapping turtles. A special thanks to Jonathan!

Steve,

Thanks for checking in on snapping turtle trapping in Maine.  It looks like you got your information from the Maine Warden Service FAQ webpage (http://www.maine.gov/ifw/warden_service/faq.html).

Aside from prohibiting the commercial take of reptiles (including snapping turtles), personal use/take is allowed and legal in Maine (exception being any species listed Endangered/Threatened).  Since snapping turtles are not considered either endangered / threatened, game, or sport fish, there are no additional specific laws or rules as to harvest regulations, gear, season, etc.  The gray area arises when you consider potential by-catch of fish, fur-bearers, etc. that do have rules and regs associated with them.  For example, your question regarding use of a hook w/ steel leader tied to shore (i.e., fixed line) isn't covered in regard to snapping turtles but is clearly an illegal method of fishing as defined in MDIFW's Inland Fishing regulations (see the definition for "set line" on page 11 here : http://www.maine.gov/ifw/laws_rules/fishing/pdfs/Laws&Definitions.pdf).

So, while personal snapping turtle trapping is allowed/legal without specific permits, licenses, or regulations, you have to consider the anticipated methods and whether or not they could potentially take other species (by-catch) that do have laws/rules associated with them (sport fish, fur- bearers, game animals, etc.).  With that in mind, here's your questions one at a time with my answers in all caps:

1. Is a fishing license required to trap snapping turtles?

NO - BUT IF YOU ANTICIPATE ACCIDENTAL TRAPPING OF FISH SPECIES IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE ONE (SAME GOES FOR IF THE TRAP CATCHES A GAME SPECIES YOU'D WANT TO HAVE A TRAPPING LICENSE AND BE OPERATING IN LEGAL SEASON, ETC.)

2. Is hook w/ steel leader, tied to shore a legal method (as used in
other states) or only box type traps?

NO - FIXED LINES VIOLATE FISHING REGS AND LIKLIHOOD OF TAKING FISH IN ADDITION TO TURTLES IS VERY HIGH

3. What types of bait are legal (raw chicken or beef liver)? Can dead bait such as minnows be used?

ALL BAIT WOULD BE LEGAL FOR SNAPPING TURTLES BUT DUE TO TAKE OF FISH YOU WOULD WANT TO BE COGNITIVE OF WHAT IS LEGAL/ALLOWED FOR THE WATER BODY YOU'RE TRAPPING/FISHING

4. How long can a trapped snapping turtle be kept before it must bedispatched?

TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC LAWS OR RULES ADDRESSING THIS

5. Is there other information, I have not mentioned that will assist me in writing the story?

Thinking on your last question, I'd like to mention two other points regarding snapping turtle harvest.  The first being that just like with large predatory fish and/or bottom feeders, snapping turtles are top level predators in many/most of the waterbodies they live in.  As such it is good practice to limit consumption of snapping turtle meat (and avoid if pregnant, etc); research has shown snapping turtles carry high levels of mercury, PCB's, and other bio-accumulates.  Secondly it's worth mentioning one of the reasons Maine no longer permits commercial take of snapping turtles.  Snappers, like all turtles, are K-selected species that take many years to reach sexual maturity (18+ years for snappers), have very low nesting/hatching success, and thus need to live a long time in order to replace themselves.  While limited personal take should allow populations to persist, a targeted commercial exploitation could quickly wipe out turtle populations for the future.

Hopefully that covered most of it Steve but again don't hesitate to follow up if I missed something.  Also, I always recommend running legal interpretations on Maine Hunting/Fishing/Trapping by your local game warden cause in the end they're the ones enforcing them.

Good luck with the article and if it's not any trouble I wouldn't mind seeing a copy when it's ready.

Best,
Jonathan
-------------------------------------
In addition to the information provided by Jonathan's e-mail here are also a few other online resources.

Excellent Website Links:
Trapping, cleaning and eating snapping turtles:
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Home/FishingSubhomePage/how_to_fishplaceholder/Turtlepagesplaceholder/fishingturtleturtle/tabid/6119/Default.aspx

More on Snapping turtles:
http://mdc.mo.gov/conmag/1996/06/common-snapping-turtles-catching-cleaning-eating
http://www.chelydra.org/

Snapping Turtle Traps:
http://www.chelydra.org/snapping_turtle_trapping_and_relocation.html

Very Good Additional Information:
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/snappers.htm

I heard this on one of the Forums and thought it was funny . . .   
How To Age Snapping Turtles: Start with prodding the turtle with your little finger. If you find he can snap it off easily he is at least 3; ring finger about 5, middle finger 8, pointer finger 12, thumb over 20.

New Appointments at Maine IFW

AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Chandler Woodcock on Monday appointed three people to leadership roles within the state agency – Deputy Commissioner, Colonel of the Maine Warden Service, and Director of Public Information and Education..

“The leadership team of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is fortunate to have these dedicated and competent individuals on board,” according to Commissioner Woodcock. “I’m confident that these three individuals will have a positive impact on our continued efforts to accomplish the mission of preserving, protecting and enhancing Maine’s fish and wildlife resources. I am honored to make these appointments.”

Andrea Erskine of Sidney, an MDIF&W employee for more than 25 years, is named deputy commissioner. For more than 20 years, Ms. Erskine served as assistant to the commissioner, playing a key role in the administration by providing input on policies and procedures, serving as regulations officer and legislative liaison, attending public hearings and work sessions, and working closely with the staff at the Office of the Governor. Prior to this post, she was licensing department supervisor. Ms. Erskine is a hospice volunteer as well as a volunteer at Embrace Your Grace, an adaptive dance project for challenged youth. She is one of eight children in a family that spent a lot of time fishing and camping in the outdoors. She is married with two adult children.

“I look forward to using all of the skills I’ve learned in my youth and my time at Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to continue providing great service to the citizens of Maine, as well as the employees in the Department who do exceptional work,” Ms. Erskine said.

Col. Joel Wilkinson of the Maine Warden Service is reappointed to the position. Col. Wilkinson recently served as Acting Commissioner from January to early March. He first was appointed Colonel in March 2008. Col. Wilkinson began his career with the Maine Warden Service in 1992 as a deputy game warden, and has served as game warden, investigator, sergeant, captain and acting major. Throughout his career Col. Wilkinson has worked closely with other key law enforcement agencies such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, Maine State Police, and county and municipal agencies.

In 2006 and 2010, Col. Wilkinson received the William Twarog Award – Manager of the Year, a department honor given for exemplary service in the protection of Maine’s fish and wildlife resources. Col. Wilkinson is a board member of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy Board of Trustees, state boating law administrator with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, president of the North East Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs Association, and president of the International Association of Natural Resource Crime Stoppers. He is married with two children.

Edie Smith is appointed as director of the division of information and education. Ms. Smith is owner and president of Maine Directions, Inc., a political and public relations consulting firm that specializes in the management of political campaigns, legislative monitoring and lobbying. Ms. Smith is a native of Winthrop, Maine where she still lives today. Since her graduation from Bowdoin College in 1981, Ms. Smith has spent 30 years working statewide on political campaigns, referendum initiatives, grassroots organizing and State House advocacy.

In 2004, she managed the campaign to defeat the anti-bear hunting referendum question, and has worked with the Maine Professional Guides Association, Small Woodlots Owners Association of Maine, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, the Maine Forest Products Council and other outdoor recreation groups. For six years, she served as executive director of Eaton Peabody Consulting Group. Ms. Smith helped found two grassroots organizations focused on landowner and outdoor use issues: the Coalition to Preserve and Grow Northern Maine and the Natural Resources Network.

Ms. Smith has volunteered with Dirigo Girls State for more than 20 years and currently is its volunteer director of education. She is the mother of two adult children.