A large alligator snapping turtle was found on Center Hill Lake. Pictures of the turtle were sent to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency officials. Once they responded, they found it dead and fairly decayed.
The alligator snapping turtle is mainly found west of the Tennessee River; so it was a mystery to TWRA officers of how and why the turtle was found locally.
Putnam County wildlife officer, Mike Beaty said the turtle is a species of greatest conservation need (GCN) in Tennessee and quickly met the Corp at the lake and contacted his colleague TWRA, Region 3 wildlife diversity biologist, Chris Simpson.
Populations of the turtle declined because of overharvesting for consumption prior to protection. TWRA, Region 1 has been working with this species since the 1990’s with restorative efforts continuing today.
The most recent sighting outside its current range occurred in Davidson County in 2016. Alligator snapping turtles prefer slow moving waters with soft substrate.
These turtles are not as long lived as other large turtles such as ocean turtles. Males live an average of 26 years and females live an average of 23 years (Niemiller, Reynolds, Miller, 2013). The alligator snapping turtle is the largest turtle in Tennessee with an average carapace length of 20-24 inches.
Wildlife diversity biologist, Chris Simpson gathered data from the Center Hill Lake alligator snapping turtle, which included a carapace measurement of 19 and a half inches and an overall length of 48 inches. Because of its decay, it could not be weighed. It was thought to be a male. Genetic material was also collected for further analysis.
Center Hill Lake dam was built in 1948. The turtle would not have been in the area prior to the building of the dam. However, this species naturally occurred in the Cumberland River system prior to the building of the dam. Genetic testing might reveal the waterway of origin.
For now, the mystery will continue. Simpson stated, “Dealing with these situations and cataloging information is truly enjoyable. Any information we can gain on a GCN species is valuable”.
