Decreased nest mortality for the Carolina diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin centrata) following removal of Raccoons (Procyon lotor) from a nesting beach in Northeastern Florida

Published source details Munscher E.C., Kuhns E.H., Cox C.A. & Butler J.A. (2012) Decreased nest mortality for the Carolina diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin centrata) following removal of Raccoons (Procyon lotor) from a nesting beach in Northeastern Florida. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 7, 176-184.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Remove or control predators using lethal controls: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles Action Link

Remove or control predators using lethal controls: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles

A before-and-after study in 1997–2000, and 2005–2006 on an intracoastal island in Florida, USA (Munscher et al. 2012) found that removing raccoons Procyon lotor resulted in reduced predation of Carolina diamondback terrapin Malaclemys terrapin centrata nests compared to when no removal was carried out. Nest predation was lower in the year with racoon removal (7 of 93, 8% of nests predated) than in years prior to removal (1997: 61 of 114, 54%; 2000: 57 of 112, 51%). Predation increased again in the year after removal (39 of 45, 87%). Racoons were trapped daily from February to April 2005, and then intermittently until September 2005 using live traps (23 raccoons removed). Raccoons were anesthetised and euthanised by lethal injection. Beaches were searched daily from April–October for signs of nesting turtles, and these nests were then monitored daily for signs of predation and emerging young.

(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, William Morgan)