"Giant" Alligator Snapping Turtle Found in Oregon, Euthanized

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Its shell is being prepared to become part of the department’s educational display of non-native invasive species, said Greg Jackle, a district biologist in Prineville.

“We euthanized it as soon as we got it back to the office,” he said. “It’s obviously a very large turtle that was not something that we’ve ever seen over here before.”

First reported by an angler at the popular Central Oregon reservoir, it was the first alligator snapping turtle found in the wild in eastern Oregon.

The turtle was killed using protocols established by the American Veterinary Medical Association. In this case, those are sedating the turtle, then dispatching it with a blow to the head.

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“I’d hate to see these turtles get established in Oregon,” he said. “We already have problems in the Willamette Valley with common snapping turtles.”

If you see an alligator or common snapping turtle, contact your local ODFW office.

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