Mississauga Turtles

[froggy]

My friend and I were wanting to catch and release (or really just see) some turtles in Mississauga, and I looked at the Pond Maps for locations but I was wondering if anyone has spotted more turtles in a particular area? Just not snapping turtles though, I find them a little...intimidating.

Not exaaactly about fishing but I figured I'd give it a shot because I'm sure you guys must come across turtles all the time.

Thank you!

 

[FishingNoob]

Why do you want to catch these turtles? How would you be doing it?

 

[froggy]

Why do you want to catch these turtles? How would you be doing it?

For a little fun and turtle appreciation, turtles are mighty fine creatures. And oh just by hand, no traps or anything that will physically hurt them. Had some friends who would shoo them up from the bottom with colanders and catch them like that haha.

 

[FishingNoob]

Oh Cool! You could try around Port Credit Park, or JC Saddington Park.

 

[fidessa]

i caught one once on the credit river many moons ago

 

[frozenfire]

Common snapping turtles and painted turtles would be the most common turtles you would find in our area.

In the more southern and south west bodies of water, you could potentially find some map turtles, musk turtles, and the eastern spiny softshell.

Another more common (but getting rarer) turtle would be the blanding's turtle. But I believe you have to go more north to find them.

Wood turtles and spotted turtles are the rarest and ones I have yet to see in the wild.

In GTA ponds, you'll only see painteds, snappers or red eared sliders (which are non-native and are all discarded pets)

 

[NOTTA STEELER]

Common snapping turtles and painted turtles would be the most common turtles you would find in our area.

In the more southern and south west bodies of water, you could potentially find some map turtles, musk turtles, and the eastern spiny softshell.

Another more common (but getting rarer) turtle would be the blanding's turtle. But I believe you have to go more north to find them.

Wood turtles and spotted turtles are the rarest and ones I have yet to see in the wild.

In GTA ponds, you'll only see painteds, snappers or red eared sliders (which are non-native and are all discarded pets)

Speaking of Blandings turtle ...I found one in the Humber river close to Eglinton Ave. Something had bitten off it's back right foot so it was a little wobbley on dry land . I remember that one more than any other turtle I've encountered because of being an endangered species for one and the yellowish colour down the under-side of it's neck , long neck and gentle disposition . Reminded me more of a tortoise than a turtle . I found out later how rare they really are and called the Ministry to tell them of my find and they appreciated the response and to mark the location .
A trip to Wye marsh is a great place to see turtles as well , you can walk along the board walk and see them sitting among the reeds and the little tiny baby painted turtles ...they are like the size of a toony.
....cute as a button .

 

[NADO]

I had no idea snappers were non-natives, they seem so common and there are even places you can take them if you find them injured on the road. If anyone remembers the turtle I found last year that I posted here. It was a snapper that had been run over by at least one car by my house but was still alive. I took it to a "turtle resort" where it ended up being euthanized as it was too dehydrated but it seemed to me that alot of care went towards these turtles if what Frozen says is true about them being invasive.

Edit: Just re-read your post Frozen, were you saying just the red eared sliders are the non-natives?

 

[frozenfire]

It's just the red-eared sliders that are non-native. They sell them in pet stores all around the GTA.
Most people don't realize they get so big, and dump them into our ponds and lakes. It's a shame really, because they can displace natural populations of painteds.
Most sliders won't survive our winters though, as they come from an area where they don't usually undergo hibernation. But I believe some have survived and actually flourish in local ponds.

 

[frozenfire]

Speaking of Blandings turtle ...I found one in the Humber river close to Eglinton Ave. Something had bitten off it's back right foot so it was a little wobbley on dry land . I remember that one more than any other turtle I've encountered because of being an endangered species for one and the yellowish colour down the under-side of it's neck , long neck and gentle disposition . Reminded me more of a tortoise than a turtle . I found out later how rare they really are and called the Ministry to tell them of my find and they appreciated the response and to mark the location .
A trip to Wye marsh is a great place to see turtles as well , you can walk along the board walk and see them sitting among the reeds and the little tiny baby painted turtles ...they are like the size of a toony.
....cute as a button .

I too, love the intense yellow throats of the blandings. What a magnificent turtle. Probably my favourite species out of all the ones in Ontario.

 

[froggy]

So my friend and I looked today in a pond off Lakeshore in Port Credit right by the lake, no turtles

Have any of you seen more than one at a certain place before?