P.I.T. Tags on Alligator Snapping Turtles, Sept. 2006. Courtesy of Tishomingo NFH, US Fish & Wildlife Service.

Tishomingo NFH had 6 alligator snapping turtle hatchlings from the 2006 year class.  All are growing well, averaging 38 grams in weight currently.  All have been tagged on rear scutes with monofilament line to identify individual growth performance.  The 2005 year class is continuing an average growth of 30% in body weight, for an average of 175 grams.  The 2004 year class, both deep and shallow treatment groups, is at 35% body weight growth, for an average of 1,000 grams.  P.I.T. tag retention is still at 100%.  A proposal to begin re-introduction of alligator snapping turtles into the wild using turtles reared at the hatchery is in the final draft stage and awaiting comments from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The re-introduction effort also includes the Tulsa Zoo veterinary staff providing comments on the turtles’ health issues.