Turtle in Royal Canal

Gaspode

I was on the platform of Ashtown Station this morning and was surprised to see a turtle swim by in the canal below.
I can only assume that someone released it into the canal because they didn't want it any more.
What are it's chances of surviving I wonder?

Half-cocked

Several have survived for a few years now in the Phoenix Park, including the last 2 very harsh winters. Not a good sign that they are in the canal, they are an alien species and could cause a lot of harm if they ever started breeding in the wild. It doesn't look like they can, but who knows with climate change?

Pigeon Reaper

I really hope it doesn't survive. Last thing we need is another invasive species.

Sid_Justice

Probably a another red eared slider terrapin. I'm not so convinced this particular exotic species will massively reproduce and threaten some natives. What ecological niche would it disrupt?

Half-cocked

The ones in the Phoenix Pk have grown quite large and snap up Little Grebe and Moorhen chicks:mad: But they probably won't ever breed. I understand they need a particular soil temp range to incubate their eggs and the Irish climate isn't right for it.

coffee to go

You might want to pass on the details of your sighting to the folks at CAISIE, who are maintaining a database of aquatic non-natives.

Contact details: http://caisie.ie/?page_id=23

cscook

Half-cocked wrote: »

The ones in the Phoenix Pk have grown quite large and snap up Little Grebe and Moorhen chicks:mad: But they probably won't ever breed. I understand they need a particular soil temp range to incubate their eggs and the Irish climate isn't right for it.

Which of the lakes in the park are they in? I've never spotted them!

Half-cocked

The Quarry Pond. There is a log they like to sunbathe on along the right hand side from the entrance gate.

cscook

Ah, I must keep an eye out. I wondered if that was the one, as that's where I've seen the Little Grebe. Thanks.

Condatis

I use to live in Portobello on the canal and about 10 years ago spotted an otter under Harold's Cross Bridge.

Bellis perennis

The Invasive Species Database website has good info on yellow-bellied sliders and some red eared sliders in Ireland. They also receive info on sightings of invasive species and show places where they have been recorded from in Ireland. See the direct link: http://invasives.biodiversityireland.ie/yellow-bellied-slider-2/

Seems like a snapper turtle was also seen in Dublin http://invasives.biodiversityireland.ie/common-snapper/

and the red eared sliders: http://apps.biodiversityireland.ie/InvasivesBrowser/speciesinfo.php?TaxonId=128500

I looked up Shay Connolly, they guy who took the photo of the red eared slider pic they have and seems the photo is of the sliders in Phoenix park. Check it out: www.flickr.com/photos/shayc/5642917979/

Half-cocked

Bellis perennis wrote: »

I looked up Shay Connolly, they guy who took the photo of the red eared slider pic they have and seems the photo is of the sliders in Phoenix park. Check it out: www.flickr.com/photos/shayc/5642917979/

Yep, that's them. I have an almost identical pic I took somewhere on my PC. That's their favourite log to bask on. There are (were) three of them.

Condatis

Half-cocked wrote: »

The Quarry Pond. There is a log they like to sunbathe on along the right hand side from the entrance gate.

Is that the pond on Ordnance Survey Road? Also called the Dog Pond I think!

Half-cocked

Condatis wrote: »

Is that the pond on Ordnance Survey Road? Also called the Dog Pond I think!

That's the one. It's kind of donut shaped, a large island in the centre.

recedite

Must be this one then.

Apparently loads of them to be seen in Bray at this time of year; Festina lente gardens

doctor evil

Half-cocked wrote: »

The ones in the Phoenix Pk have grown quite large and snap up Little Grebe and Moorhen chicks:mad: But they probably won't ever breed. I understand they need a particular soil temp range to incubate their eggs and the Irish climate isn't right for it.

I hope they are being removed and dealt with the same as other invasive species.

WalterMitty

Why is it so important to keep alien species out? species which are native to a certain geographical location change over millenia anyway. Dinosaurs were native to the area of modern Ireland in past!

Bellis perennis

There isn't an overall problem with alien species but just with a sub-set that do or might become invasive species. About half the plants in Ireland are alien and the majority do no harm but some do. Think of Rhododendron and Japanese knotweed! Many alien plants are also Ireland are beneficial such as wheat!

The problem with alien plants or animals etc is knowing what ones might or will cause a problem for our native wildlife or for humans.

While some species were native in Ireland millenia ago etc. it is how species evolve with each other is the issue. For instance, many alien species that become invasive in an area do so because they are free from the constraints that kept their populations in check in their native range such as parasites or environmental conditions and can fair better than those native ones that have checks in place from other species. Also, many animals may be new predators to an area where the native species have not evolved to cope with them.

Ronan6700

I was out for a walk at the canal in sallins today with my wife. Couldn't believe it when I spotted a turtle swimming around. We both got a good look at it then it got spooked and swam off. Green back and yellow underneath. He was deffo lost!!

Bonedigger

Ronan6700 wrote: »

I was out for a walk at the canal in sallins today with my wife. Couldn't believe it when I spotted a turtle swimming around. We both got a good look at it then it got spooked and swam off. Green back and yellow underneath. He was deffo lost!!

Interesting!How large was it?

dodderangler

There's a good few of them in the dodder. People who don't want them just dumping them in the river. Surprised they survive the winter

Ronan6700

Yeah he was big enough. Say the length of a 500ml coke bottle. The one time I didn't have my phone on me!!

He seemed to be getting on grand anyway, I'm sure there is plenty to eat there because all the fish seem to be gone.

Bonedigger

Ronan6700 wrote: »

Yeah he was big enough. Say the length of a 500ml coke bottle. The one time I didn't have my phone on me!!

He seemed to be getting on grand anyway, I'm sure there is plenty to eat there because all the fish seem to be gone.

"......all the fish seem to be gone".I know what you mean(and doubt it's the turtle's fault,hee-hee!).I know that stretch of canal well and recall as a child seeing large shoals of fish in it,but unfortunately you'd be lucky to see a half-dozen there at any one time now.Is it being overfished?Is it pollution or what?Maybe Dodderangler might know?That stretch of canal does have Otters,but doubt if they're having a huge impact on the fish population.
As dodderangler has said,there's more turtles in our waterways than we can imagine.They can live for a pretty long time too I believe.Hard to see them breeding though - I think it's just too cold here.

dodderangler

The royal canal was fleeced of its fish in mid 00s. I even heard of one incident involving a fella with a keep net full of fish and was also putting fish into black bags was reported and as he was being questioned by bailiff he obviously knew he was in trouble he jumped into the water and Swam across other side and got away. Now I don't know how true it is but I'd well believe it.
I remember years ago seeing a lovely double figure pike slowly swimming up the canal in drimnagh without a care in the world. Fish like that won't be seen again in that canal.
I work in clondalkin and regularly see plenty of small fry ( assuming it's roach) and that's a good sign.
As for the turtles ( assume yellow bellied turtles) I don't know they're breeding habits but I don't see them breeding in Ireland