Snapping turtle attacked gosling (**WARNING ** GRAPHIC PICTURES)

[Red Maple Farms]

Well, this has been my second gosling that has been attacked in a week. The first one suffered similar damage. Finally caught the snapper that did it, I think. I'm sure there are more snappers to take his place.

I cleaned the wound, dabbed on povidone iodine and triple antibiotic ointment. The gosling went to a recovery cage in the coop where the first gosling spent his recovery. He looks pretty good overall, and is walking and running around very well. No blood, thus should be a short recovery. The turtle found a new home in a creek about a half mile away.

It was interesting. It must have just happened when I went to the pond, because the turtle was still munching on the chunk of skin when I caught him.

 

[katharinad]

Ouch that looks bad. Man and the size of that darn turtle. I think it is time to bait, trap, and move those suckers.

 

[luvchicks8]

poor ducky glad you cought the culprit, I hope 1/2 mile is far enough to not return

 

[Red Maple Farms]

I'm sure the gosling is in a bit of pain, as it seems to be making some grunting sounds. In a day or two the pain should subside. Meanwhile I added back the first gosling in the pen to keep him company.

Even though these types of wounds look bad, they seem to quickly heal. The first gosling's wound has scabbed over nicely, and he is running around with no problems.

I've had ducks get attacked where half their neck and chest is bare of skin. Within a couple weeks they are good to go again.

Looks like it is time to go snapping turtle hunting again. What the snappers like to do is dig into the mud where the ducks enter the pond. It's just a matter of time when their prey hits the exact spot and they strike. The older pekins are wise to the turtles ways, but the naive goslings fell for the trap.

 

[Chloe]

aw poor thing, are those turtle common where you are? im glad i dont have all these predator worries lol

 

[The Tinman]

You are lucky it was a small snapper. I`ve seen some the size of a garbage can lid. One time some friends and I were at a pond fishing and we heard this duck going crazy and going under ther water. My friend thought it was drowning. I said to him " Even if it is dead it will float" but he kept thinking it was drowning so he decide to go rescue it. He grabed the duck and you can tell he was straining pulled it out of the water and attached to it was a hugh snapping turtle. You should have seen the look on his face. We just rolled laughing.

 

[Amyable]

Oh dear

Poor little things.
That makes me very nervous now, because in our little pond I've seen some snappers, and I want ducks next summer. Is it possible to deter these turtles? Or just catch and relocate?

 

[Red Maple Farms]

Quote:
Snapping turtle are quite common here. You never really see them much, because the don't bask in the sun like painted turtles.

When you practice free ranging farming methods, predators can really tear you up. I do my best to deter predators first, such as using a livestock guardian dog, before resorting to lethal methods. Sometimes I just accept the loss, such as when I have bald eagles preying on my ducklings. The ducks could be kept safe inside in large barns, but then you become just like the larger corporate farms.

 

[Chloe]

Quote:
Snapping turtle are quite common here. You never really see them much, because the don't bask in the sun like painted turtles.

When you practice free ranging farming methods, predators can really tear you up. I do my best to deter predators first, such as using a livestock guardian dog, before resorting to lethal methods. Sometimes I just accept the loss, such as when I have bald eagles preying on my ducklings. The ducks could be kept safe inside in large barns, but then you become just like the larger corporate farms.

wow animals like that are such a novelty here. All I have to worry about is foxes and badgers really and I can see the ducks from my window so as long as I lock them up at night its not really an issue, but I didnt know that you have to worry about that amount of predators

 

[Red Maple Farms]

Quote:
I think you pretty much have to catch and kill/eat/relocate them. The good news is that snapping turtles actually are good eating if prepared right.