Dinosaur-like turtles will return to Kansas soon, what to know
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Wildlife officials are preparing to reintroduce a locally extinct species back into Kansas’ waters next month in a bid to restore it to its old habitat in the state.
27 News spoke with Trevor Starks, recovery program coordinator with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), about when locals can expect to see alligator snapping turtles return to the state’s waters. This big aquatic species has been absent from the state’s waterways for decades and will be reintroduced soon.
In a previous interview, Starks said these large turtles would be brought in during the fall of 2024. Now, he is giving an update on the reintroduction effort and what it will mean for the Kansas.
When will alligator snapping turtles be released into the wild?
Starks said a batch of around 40 alligator snapping turtles will be restored to their native home range in Kansas on Thursday, Sept. 12. More of the turtles are expected to be released during a follow-up disbursement around the same time next year in the same area.
“They’re [alligator snapping turtles] gonna be spread out,” Starks said. “The majority will be put in one spot.”
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KDWP staff worked with a private landowner and a local company near the release site at the Neosho Wildlife Area in Neosho County to make the plan happen. The turtles will be put in the waters of the Neosho River near the Neosho Wildlife Area’s north unit. Historically, these waters along with the Verdigris River were home to the massive turtles before their total disappearance from the state more than 30 years ago.
“This is a long time coming and a long process for those involved,” Starks said. “The end goal was to put turtles up these rivers in Oklahoma and then get them back in their ranges in Kansas.”
Starks said the turtles will be released at a nearby boat ramp out of individual carrying totes so they can begin re-establishing themselves in the river. Following this release, groups will split off to carry out other disbursements nearby on the same day.
Turtle controversy
Reactions to the news that KDWP staff would be reintroducing alligator snapping turtles back to the state following their long absence from Kansas was met with some controversy. Starks said some people were convinced the species already lived in the state after 27 News first shared the story back in June this year, notifying people of the plan.
“Obviously if someone sees an alligator snapping turtle that we don’t know about, we want to see it,” Starks said.
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However, upon receiving many of the photos showing evidence of alligator snapping turtles in Kansas, the KDWP verified they were mostly showing the smaller common snapping turtles. A few submissions of alligator snapping turtles later were proven to have been taken outside of Kansas.
“Only calls I’ve gotten have all been related to people thinking they already have them, and all of those were coming from people far, far outside their range,” Starks said.
Starks used the opportunity to explain to Kansas residents the differences between the two turtle species and what the Kansas Aquatic Species Recovery Program is all about. He took another step towards dispelling misinformation on the turtles by creating a ‘one-stop-shop’ on the KDWP’s website to help answer common questions on alligator snappers.
“It’s a more scary looking animal than a minnow or a buffalo carp,” Starks said. “Its honestly been really well received, more well received than we expected. It was a chance to talk to people about the differences between the species.”
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Alligator snapping turtles are typically found in southern states, with Kansas representing the northwesternmost extent of their native range, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS). The turtles are considered extremely rare or extinct in Kansas and Indiana.
The turtles can appear intimidating with their large, dinosaur-like appearance but usually avoid people by hiding at the bottom of rivers. They stand apart from common snapping turtles due to their impressive size and ridged, alligator-like, shells.
Program hurdles, future outlook
Landowners have mostly been receptive to the program, which will help make releasing and monitoring the turtles easier. Without the permission of landowners along the Neosho and Verdigris Rivers, the plan to return and monitor the alligator snapping turtles wouldn’t be possible.
“We’ve got pretty good protocols for other species, but for alligator snapping turtles you’ll need to go back out on boats,” Starks said. “It’s a lot more difficult to do that.”
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Starks said the biggest hurdle moving forward will be monitoring the progress of the turtles as they stake a claim on their new home. Staff from Missouri State University will help out with this by fixing tags onto each turtle to help keep track of their progress in the water.
“I’m feeling very optimistic about this,” Starks said. “The thought is, if we were going to get any significant negative feedback, we’d have gotten it by now.”
The turtles are not expected to have a large impact on native wildlife in the waters or cause issues for Kansans. You can learn more about the program or brush up on some frequently asked questions regarding the species by clicking here. To learn more about the Kansas Aquatic Species Recovery program, click here.
“I’m really, really excited about bringing back a species that’s been absent from Kansas for 30 years back to the state,” Starks said. “Once the turtles get back in the water, it’ll be really, really great.”
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