Turtles in lake trigger pest alert

FILE

More turtles have been spotted in Lake Taupo after being dumped.

Waikato Regional Council biosecurity officer Brett Bailey said pet owners needed to take more responsibility to look after the introduced pets, which were considered a pest.

"We don't want these turtles becoming widespread in the wild," he said.

"They are considered one of the world's top 100 pests."

A red-eared slider turtle was found in the lake last year, another was picked up by a tourist on the lakefront before Christmas, and there have been two reports of red-eared slider turtles in the lake recently.

It was believed the turtles were pets that had escaped, or were deliberately released to the wild when the owner no longer wanted them. "If people do not want their pet, they should first attempt to rehome it themselves and if this is unsuccessful call the SPCA. They can also contact the council's biosecurity team on 0800 800 401 for advice."

Turtles are a danger to waterways and the council is in the process of putting rules in place that would make releasing them into the wild an offence.

"They are omnivorous and eat native species such as eels and native fish, and compete for food with introduced trout."

Authorities were concerned about turtles becoming established in Lake Taupo, Mr Bailey said.

"It's thought that New Zealand is generally too cold for the turtles, which breed on land, to get established on any scale by breeding in the wild.

"But Lake Taupo has geothermal heat venting at various sites around the lake shore, which could potentially create pockets where successful breeding could occur."