A snapping turtle that apparently had been displaced by spring flooding has been rescued from the Lake Michigan shoreline and placed back into more suitable habitat.
“Doug the Tank”, a 33-pound snapping turtle is back home, the Michigan Amphibian & Reptile Sanctuary announced on Monday, May 13, after being found near Grand Haven, lethargic and exhausted after being thrown back and forth by Lake Michigan waves.
“A while back, Doug, a large common snapping turtle, was found struggling along the shoreline of Lake Michigan near Grand Haven,” the sanctuary said on Facebook. “When Doug was found, he was reported to be acting out of the ordinary and seemingly lethargic. Hours later when our transporter located him he was being thrown back and forth by the waves and appeared already deceased. Luckily he wasn’t, but he was quite exhausted.”
Residents told the sanctuary he had been on the shoreline for days, pacing the beach. Officials determined he, along with other turtles that were later found dead, had been displaced by heavy flooding.
“After intaking Doug we’ve received multiple other calls about turtles found along the shore of in the exact same area. Each one being seen in the same condition and being thrown about in the surf unable to advance through it. Exhaustion, injury, disorientation, or displacement into unsuitable habitat can all quickly become dangerous for these animals,” the sanctuary said.
“Unlike some aquatic species that are adapted to more high-energy waterways, the common snapping turtle typically prefers calmer inland habitats such as ponds, marshes, lakes, and slow-moving rivers,” MARS said. “The powerful currents and constant surf found along the open shoreline of Lake Michigan make it difficult and even dangerous for them to navigate long-term since they aren’t typically adapted to swimming through intense currents.”
After spending time recovering at MARS, Doug was released into “much more” appropriate inland water habitat close to where he was originally found on Sunday, May 10.
As turtle season continues, MARS is encouraging residents to keep these tips in mind:
Snapping turtles are found mostly in wetland-rich areas and meander around Michigan’s Great Lakes, according to Oakland County.
Road embankments are often ideal egg-laying habitats for these creatures, as most encounters usually happen a in mid to late May, when turtles are laying eggs.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Flooding left snapping turtle stranded on beach, but now he’s home
Reporting by Jalen Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
