Are alligator snapping turtles protected in Illinois?
ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLES ARE A STATE ENDANGERED SPECIES AND PROTECTED BY LAW. The State of Illinois is reintroducing the native Alligator Snapping Turtle to strategic watersheds in Illinois.
Where are alligator snapping turtles protected?
Presently, under Rule 68A-27.005 of the Florida Administrative Code, it is illegal to take, possess, or sell the alligator snapping turtle, as it is a protected species. It could take decades for the alligator snapping turtle to recover from the pre-1970 overharvesting.
Is an alligator snapping turtle endangered?
Alligator snapping turtles are declining due to habitat degradation and overharvesting for their meat. They are not an endangered species, but some states have imposed bans on collecting them from the wild.
Where was the largest alligator snapping turtle caught?
The largest snapping turtle ever officially recorded was a 16 year old alligator snapping turtle that weighed in at a massive 249 pounds. This massive turtle was weighed at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago in 1999 prior to being sent to Tennessee Aquarium on breeding loan.
Can you hunt snapping turtles in Illinois?
All common snapping turtles and bullfrogs taken for personal consumption must be kept and counted in the daily catch creel or bag. No culling of these 2 species for personal consumption is permitted.
Are common snapping turtles protected?
Range and Habitat: Common snapping turtles are found throughout eastern North America including all of South Carolina and Georgia. They inhabit almost any body of freshwater throughout their range. Conservation Status: The common snapping turtle is not protected and is considered locally abundant in Georgia.
When did alligator snapping turtles become endangered?
2012
(The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned in 2012 to have alligator snapping turtles protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.)
How old was the longest living snapping turtle?
150 years old
Thunder, an alligator snapping turtle, had been with the aquarium since it opened in 1999. She was estimated to be 150 years old.
What are predators of snapping turtles?
Adult snapping turtles have very few predators but are sometimes attacked by river otters, bears and coyotes. In the southern United States, where their territory overlaps, snapping turtles are preyed upon by American alligators and alligator snapping turtles.