Capture and Relocation
Western pond turtles will only be captured and relocated when it is the only option to prevent injury or mortality, and after all attempts to avoid interaction with the species have been used. If necessary to avoid injury or mortality, relocation of western pond turtles will be conducted by a Qualified Biologist in accordance with the requirements of REP-6, Species Handling and Relocation. Western pond turtle relocation will be conducted as described in a USFWS-approved reptile relocation plan submitted by the Project Proponent to the local USFWS Field Office concurrently with the ESA Section 7(a)(2) Review Form or at least 60 days before construction. Early submission facilitates timely USFWS review and approval and helps avoid project delays.
-Avoid and minimize transfer of diseases (e.g. turtle-shell disease, respiratory disease). The Qualified Biologist will wear disposable nonlatex or rubber gloves when handling individual turtles to inhibit transmission of disease. Any suspected observations of disease such as respiratory or turtle-shell disease in western pond turtles or any other species of turtle at the project site will be reported to the USFWS within 24 hours and before relocating any western pond turtle. If any western pond turtle or other turtle species in the project site test positive or are suspected of turtle-shell disease, then all turtles at the project site will be considered to be potentially infected. All equipment and clothing will be decontaminated and dried completely prior to and after use at an aquatic project site to prevent disease transmission between water bodies.
-Western pond turtles will be released within a few hours of capture. Individuals will be kept in containers with high sides, such as 5-gallon (18.9 liter) plastic buckets or 10-gallon (37.9 liter) storage tubs. Place a lid or piece of cloth over the top to darken the container. Keep captured western pond turtles out of direct sunlight because overheating is possible in a short time.
-The Qualified Biologist will capture and relocate the western pond turtle the shortest distance possible to a location that contains similar suitable habitat and that will not be affected by activities associated with the project. No western pond turtles will be relocated more than 500 meters or to a different watershed to prevent disorientation and the spread of diseases.
-If a western pond turtle found in upland habitat is suspected of traveling to an overwintering/aestivation or nesting site and voids its bladder upon handling, then the western pond turtle will be returned to aquatic habitat.
-Nesting or gravid female western pond turtles will be avoided to the greatest extent practicable. If an adult female western pond turtle is gravid or post-nesting, the Qualified Biologist will determine if she will be relocated to suitable undisturbed nesting habitat or suitable aquatic habitat outside of the work area. All possible precautions will be taken to allow her to continue to nest and to avoid nest failure.
Refer to the 2024 Northwestern Pond Turtle Avoidance and Minimization Measures (USFWS 2024a) and Southwestern Pond Turtle Avoidance and Minimization Measure Recommendations (USFWS 2024b) for more details on relocation of western pond turtles.