Predators May Lose Interest in Turtle Acclimation Pens: Implications for Translocations Using Soft Release

摘要

We opportunistically investigated predator visits to enclosed acclimation pens containing juvenile eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) over a 34-d acclimation period using motion-triggered cameras. Daily visitation probability by raccoons (Procyon lotor) and fox squirrels (Sciurus niger; the only predator species observed visiting) decreased from a peak of 36% probability of a visit on the first day turtles were penned to nearly zero probability by day 34 (the release day). Our findings indicate predators lose interest in pens over time, and we suggest animals should be released from acclimation pens after predators have lost interest in pens to avoid heightened predation risk of translocated animals.