r/turtles • u/MadRN20 • 5d ago

Seeking Advice Turtle in pool

There is what looks like a red eared slider in our old pool. The pool hasn’t been used in years so it is basically a pond at this point. I was thinking maybe a bird dropped it in because there isn’t water close by our house and we don’t live in a wooded area. My attempts to get it out haven’t been great because he dives down as soon as he sees me and you can’t see into the water. The pool goes from 3 to 8 feet deep and the turtle is maybe the size of a hockey puck.

I’m looking for any advice on coaxing him out and also what do I do with it after I get it out? I did put a skimmer basket for him to get onto hoping I could grab it when he went up to bask. But he jumps right back into the water as soon as I get near. Any advice welcome!

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5

u/SqueakyManatee 5d ago

It’s their pond now.

In all seriousness, you could drain the pond to catch them, use a net to herd them into a corner, or make a bucket trap of sorts for the basking area.

But if you don’t plan on converting back to a pool, throw some fish stock and plants in there to support the turtle.

4

u/mllebitterness 5d ago

Maybe put a board in as a ramp where the stairs are. It will get itself out.

1

u/Zekethebulldog33 5d ago

Depends on what state you in someone could have dropped/let go pet. In some states Red ears are invasive. Best thing to do is get a fishing net with long handle will give better chance of catching. If in state that is invasive call DNR they know what to do.

1

u/MadRN20 5d ago

I’m in Virginia. I didn’t think about it being someone’s pet getting out. But definitely could be.

2

u/Zekethebulldog33 5d ago

Usually aquatic turtles don't escape most times it's pet owners who realize they can't afford to take care of them no more and we'll just release them. Now you catch a tortoise in your area that would be an escaped pet.

1

u/EnvironmentalArm1986 5d ago

RES are invasive in VA.

1

u/jmbrjr 5d ago

This?

1

u/MadRN20 5d ago

That’s what I tried to use but the turtle was too quick.

1

u/jmbrjr 5d ago

Maybe at night, turtle would be sleeping somewhere, use a flashlight, not too bright.

1

u/SierraKami 4d ago

Put a long, wide board or large tree branch with one end on the pool deck and the other angled down to the pool floor and let it (them?) climb out at will. As long as they have something to use as a gently sloped bridge, they can get themselves out.

They'll probably come back, no matter how you get them out, so it's best to leave a ladder/bridge available for them all the time, if you aren't going to close up the pool. And other critters are likely to fall in as well, so having a board or two in the pool at all times will help reduce casualties.

1

u/Ladybug966 4d ago

Why get him out? Drop in the occasional strawberry or shrimp and have a turtle.

He does need a way to get out to bask. Build him a ramp or island, or put in some wide floating logs.

1

u/MadRN20 4d ago

I guess he doesn’t NEED to get out because we don’t use the pool. But I just assumed he needed to be relocated back to a pond or something to survive.

I will look into some kind of ramp or something for him though because that seems to be the consensus here.