[Dtwg] Captive PIT tagged terrapin

Thu Oct 31 15:08:54 EDT 2019

 The notching/drilling of the marginal scutes of research terrapins/turtles
(Cagle 1939) should be standard with inserting pit-tags. Terrapins and
other turtles in the US have a higher chance of staying where right where
they are if they are noticeably marked as a research animal. This is a very
good deterrent, as well as an easy identification feature. It does not stop
every poaching event, but it certainly reduces the number.  When turtles
are just pit-tagged, collectors think they have unmarked (unclaimed)
animals and that their risk level is low. When they see holes or notches,
the collectors know they are in or near a research area or and the animals
might be pit-tagged, which can't be easily removed, and this links them to
the location where they animals came from therefore increasing their risk.
The "might be pit-tagged" thought is a very good deterrent, but they won't
get that unless the turtle is noticeably marked. Marked turtles are often
not poached or done so in low number because of that risk, plus the fact
that they have been defaced. Inspectors and other law enforcement are more
aware of marked turtles these days and are likely to question an animal
with obvious human-made notches/holes. That gives law enforcement a reason
to scan the turtle with a reader. The third method that should be used are
photographs, Although terrapins are a species that can change color and
pattern from hatchling to adult (ontogenetic shift). Once they take on the
adult form (this happens before maturity), those head/chin patterns as well
as carapace/plastron patterns are mostly defined and do not change much.
This three way ID protocol (notch/pit-tag/photographs) allows you to
positively identify your research turtles even if two methods fail, such as
an expelled pit-tag or a predator removing notched scutes.

it is important to know that when a species becomes extremely valuable,
like A*strochelys yniphora *etc., neither notches, pit-tags, photographs,
engraving, or anti-tampering explosives will stop the poaching event.

Chris
Chris Lechowicz Director-Wildlife & Habitat Management/Herpetologist
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On Wed, Oct 30, 2019 at 7:12 PM <tsonokwa1 at gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 30, 2019, at 1:33 PM, Marguerite Whilden <tidewater1 at mac.com>
> wrote:
>
> One way or another I hope your recent efforts to track down the origins
> of a tagged terrapin become standard procedure, particularly since many
> tagging efforts are unpublished, discontinued, and/or not widely known.
> Although PIT tags may be the most popular there are several other tagging
> methods that could be recognized by other taggers, collectors, fishers,
> etc. Unless the marking method needs to be concealed a two tiered method
> might be preferred.  In my experience, the recovery of our tagged animals
> in 2006 provided vital evidence that was pivotal to our conservation
> efforts.  Specifically, the return of several tagged terrapins from a live
> market in Albany, NY documented the extent and composition of Maryland’s
> commercial harvest and sparked an extraordinary series of events. We’re
> forever grateful for the concerted efforts of several individuals who
> noticed the market terrapins were marked, found us, and returned our
> terrapins.  It was particularly serendipitous since we do not use PIT tags.
>
>
>
>
>
> On Oct 16, 2019, at 8:25 PM, Barbara Brennessel <bbrennes at wheatonma.edu>
> wrote:
>
> This is an interesting idea.  I leave it to the leadership of the DTWG to
> decide on a policy and devise a method to share this information.  Perhaps
> the tagging efforts could be shared at regional meetings and then collected
> at the next national meeting...
>
> On Wed, Oct 16, 2019 at 6:25 PM Marguerite Whilden <tidewater1 at mac.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Regarding the tagged terrapin discovered at a reptile show, it would be
>> helpful to have a readily available chart describing all terrapin tagging
>> efforts.  If not already established there should be a code of ethics
>> adopted by any/all researchers permitted by States to tag wild terrapins
>> that would require an effort to notify the source of the original tag. (The
>> Maryland Scientific Collection Permit once required such notification.) I
>> learned recently that terrapins with Terrapin Institute tags and other
>> obvious telltale marks on the shell were discovered in the Chesapeake.
>> Unfortunately there was no effort to identify the original tagger and
>> report such findings because the researcher was unaware of any other
>> tagging programs.  The Terrapin Institute has posted several photos
>> depicting examples of our various tagging techniques beginning with our
>> 1998 tags.
>> Might there be any interest among this membership to compile a chart of
>> tagging efforts and develop a code of ethics?
>>
>> > On Oct 16, 2019, at 12:15 PM, Barbara Brennessel <
>> bbrennes at wheatonma.edu> wrote:
>> >
>> > Thank you for all your responses. We identified the area from which the
>> captive PIT tagged terrapin originated.  Law enforcement is now in the
>> picture.
>> >
>> >  It's quite a coincidence that this was reported just after the DTWG
>> workshop in Wilmington at which there were a couple of talks that mentioned
>> poaching.
>> >
>> > --
>> > Barbara Brennessel, Ph.D.
>> > Professor Emerita
>> > Wheaton College
>> > Norton, MA 02766
>> >
>> > cell:508-479-6553
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Dtwg mailing list
>> > Dtwg at listserv.ohio.edu
>> > https://listserv.ohio.edu/mailman/listinfo/dtwg
>>
>>
>
> --
> Barbara Brennessel, Ph.D.
> Professor Emerita
> Wheaton College
> Norton, MA 02766
>
> cell:508-479-6553
>
>
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