Turtle trapping has become a common practice in the state of Iowa, but Lake Darling Fisheries Biologist Chad Dolan warns it could lead to dwindling turtle populations. The most commonly trapped species include snapping, soft-shell, and painted turtles, and most are trapped for either food, research, or the pet trade. However, Dolan says with little regulation of turtle trapping in the state, their populations could begin to wane. They also face natural predators such as raccoons, which have a tendency to eat hatchlings and eggs.

If the turtle population does decrease, he says this could lead to diminished water quality in the state, since turtles are carrion animals that primarily subsist on eating dead fish. He added it’s already happened in other places in the United States, so the Department of Natural Resources is taking special notice of the issue. Dolan said he would like to see a turtle season implemented, when it would be safe to harvest turtles without stressing the population. He emphasized they don’t want to shut down turtle trapping entirely, they wish to regulate it.