Why are they endangered?

Grand Coulee Dam, the largest dam in Washington State

Western pond turtle populations have declined due to a wide variety of reasons that include:

• Habitat Loss

          -The Construction of over 30 dams in Washington state has reduced temperatures upstream of dams while increasing the velocity of the stream below the dam resulting in the destruction of the habitat required for these turtles.

           -Draining or filling wetlands to create industrial areas has also played a major role in the destruction of their habitat. This increases the runoff into the local streams which creates larger floods that destroy and drown the nests located in the flood plane.

• Predation
  

Large Mouth Bass, one of the non-native predators that feed
on young Western Pond Turtles

           -There have been new predators introduced to these habitats such as bullfrogs and the largemouth bass. These predators feed on the hatchlings and since Western Pond Turtles leave their babies to fend for themselves, this leaves the hatchlings extremely vulnerable to predation. These turtles also have a very slow development rate which also adds to their vulnerability. 

• Human Consumption

           -Poaching of the turtles for both their shells and meat played a major role in the turtles becoming endangered in Washington State.

           -Turtles are often captured and sold as pets, and many of the turtles that are captured do not survive the transition.

• Disease

           -"In 1990, many pond turtles in Klickitat County died from a disease similar to upper respiratory disease. Diseases such as this can be introduced into western pond turtle populations when nonnative turtles are released into the wild!"(Woodland Park Zoo)

This disease was believed to have killed up to one third of the total population at that time.