Turtles Missing From Pond

[deb vogel]

I have a huge pond on my property, and I have seen turtles there in the past.  They were probably painted, and a few snappers, but lately I haven't seen the painted ones.  I have a raft type of floatation, where I put out food for them.  Well, one day last week I saw the snapper on it and he dumped all of the food into the water, but since that day I haven't seen the painted turtles.  Could the snapper be chasing them away from the raft to get at the food for itself?  Over the years I have found several turtles along the roadside and have always put them into the pond.  But they don't stay.  What can I do to get turtles back in my pond?  I live near the Mississippi River and I was wandering, so I have access to more turtles.  I was even thinking about buying some.  I just love to watch them out there sunning on their raft.  What can I do, it is impossible to put a net over it because it is too big.

[Travis]

I would try and fish out the snapping turtles and then fence in the pond if you can then add in the turtles

[JamesS]

I agree with Tarvis.  You'll have to fence in the pond and take the snappers out. 

I've seen it happen a lot where 1 or 2 snappers overtake a pond and force the other turtles to seek a home elsewhere (especially in smaller ponds).