MFWP Wildlife Biologists

With the dewatering of Baker Lake well underway, there has been some concern among area residents about what will become of the wildlife inhabiting the lake, especially turtles. The dewatering is a major event. We expect the long-term impacts to be positive for wildlife, but there will be short-term disturbance and displacement, for which there are no easy solutions.

Transporting turtles to other waters might sound like a kind solution, but there can be unintended negative consequences. In one study, almost half of the translocated turtles attempted to move back to their home pond. What that means is that many translocated turtles will end up venturing out into unfamiliar environments seeking to return home. Many will perish. Anytime we move wildlife around the landscape, we risk transporting pathogens and disrupting the natural balance in the ‘host’ community. Ponds that don’t already support turtles may be lacking the necessary components that turtles need. Relocating turtles into these areas may be little more than a slow death sentence. We do not recommend that people transport turtles.

By statute, a person may not transplant any wildlife from one place to another without authorization. The definition of wildlife under this section is “a wild mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, mollusk, crustacean or other wild animal or any part, product, egg or offspring or the dead body parts of the animal.”

Many turtles and other wildlife have already followed the water toward Sandstone Lake or have ventured out to other nearby creeks and reservoirs. For those that have not made the journey yet, it is likely that they will do so as the lake continues to dry up. Turtles have impressive abilities to find new water when their pond/wetland dries up; painted turtles have the capability to travel over several miles without food or water. Many move among ponds as part of their normal annual cycle. Turtles have their best odds of survival if we allow them to disperse out of the drying lake on their own.

Unfortunately, this year’s drought will make it more difficult for displaced wildlife to locate suitable bodies of water. This impact is not limited to wildlife displaced by the drainage of Baker Lake. Natural rates of mortality will be high for turtles and other wildlife throughout eastern Montana as both water sources and forage dry up.

Of course, turtles leaving Baker Lake have a major obstacle in their path - the City of Baker - which is riddled with hazards such as roadways, homes and pets. It’s reasonable for folks to move turtles out of roadways, toward the drain by Reynolds where the water is being pumped, or toward the edge of town. It is best to move the turtle in the direction it was headed, otherwise they oftentimes will turn back around. We ask that if people pick up turtles, they keep three key things in mind:

1. Red-eared sliders are an exotic species common in the pet trade that look similar to native painted turtles. When they get too large or are no longer wanted as a pet, people will often “set them free” in the local pond or lake. These individuals are unknowingly introducing an invasive species which can have devastating effects on native turtles. We ask that if you find a red-eared slider (see pictures for identification) from Baker Lake, contact FWP. It is illegal to keep or release Red-eared Sliders and other invasive species. There are only two native species that occur in Baker Lake: Western Painted Turtles and Snapping Turtles.

2. Turtles can carry salmonella. People should wear rubber gloves and thoroughly wash their hands after handling turtles. Children under the age of 5 should not handle turtles.

3. Aquatic pet tanks often carry bacteria or diseases that wild turtles have not been exposed to. Please do not utilize home aquariums to house or transport turtles. A clean bucket is a better choice.

The dewatering of Baker Lake is a necessary event that will restore the vitality and habitat quality to Baker Lake in the future, despite short-term negative impacts. As wildlife biologists, this project is one that causes us little concern, because looking into the future the habitat quality will be restored and even improved. From a population perspective, there is no concern because the species that are inhabiting Baker Lake are common, abundant species, and will likely return to the lake once the habitat is restored. Most projects that cross our desks aren’t that way; we see many projects that come with significant long-term wildlife impacts. In this case, the improvements that will be made to the long-term habitat quality for turtles and a variety of other wildlife at Baker Lake outweigh the short-term negative impacts currently being observed.