You have a variety of options for acquiring food.

1) PURCHASE

You can purchase goldfish and minnows from a pet store for 10-30 cents each. A dozen minnow will cost about $2.

2) REARING BAIT

Some schools have a second aquarium in the classroom and allow the goldfish and minnows to breed, providing a nearly self-sustaining supply of turtle prey.

3) COLLECTING FROM NATURE

 1) MINNOWS

According to the 2013-2015 Illinois Fishing Regulations book, persons possessing a valid fishing license may take minnows with cast nets (not larger than 8 feet in diameter and have a mesh size not larger than 3/8 inch bar measurement), shad scoops (no larger than 30 inches in diameter or longer than 4 feet in length and having a bar mesh size not larger ½ inch), or a minnow seine (no longer than 20 feet in length, deeper than 6 feet or having a mesh size larger than ½ inch bar measurement), or a trap not more than 36 inches in length, 24 inches in width, and with mesh no larger than ½ inch bar measurement.

2) FROGS

According to the 2013-2015 Illinois Fishing Regulations book, a sport fishing license is required to take bullfrogs. Bullfrogs may be taken by hook and line, gig, pitchfork, spear, bow and arrow, hand or landing net. No person shall take bullfrogs or any other reptile or amphibian by commercial fishing devices, including hoop nets, traps or seines or by the use of firearms, air guns or gas guns. All other species of unprotected reptiles and amphibians may only be taken by hand. This shall not restrict the use of legally taken reptiles or amphibians as bait by anglers. Bullfrogs may be taken only between June 15 and August 31, both dates inclusive. The daily limit for bullfrogs is 8 with a possession limit of 16. For indigenous amphibian and reptile taxa, which my only be taken by hand (excluding common snapping turtles and bullfrogs), the possession limit is 8 collectively with no more than 4 per taxa.

3) CRAYFISH

According to the 2013-2015 Illinois Fishing Regulations book, crayfish, except endangered or threatened species, may be taken for bait, using legal sized cast nets, shad scoops and minnow seines, provided that they are not sold or bartered. All cast nets shall not be larger than 8 feet in diameter or of a mesh size not larger than 3/8 inch bar measurement. All shad scoops shall not be larger than 30 inches in diameter or of a mesh size not larger than ½ inch bar measurement or long than 4 feet in length. Minnow seines shall not be longer than 20 feet, deeper than 6 feet or contain mesh size larger than ½ inch bar measurement. Crayfish may be collected wit traps of metal screen or hardware cloth, plastic or nylon mesh or netting. Such traps may not be more than 24 inches in width or diameter or more than 36 inches in length nor use a mesh of more than ½ inch bar measurement. Each entrance aperture may not exceed 1 ½ inches in diameter. If unattended, such devices must be tagged with the name and mailing address of the person operating the device. Crayfish collected in such devices may only be taken for personal use and may not be sold or bartered. Collected live crayfish may not be transported between water bodies.

Operation Endangered Species coordinators will contact you to make arrangement for you to pick up your turtle, or delivery, once your Endangered Species Possession Permit Application has been received, approved and the permit issued. You should plan to have acquired all the necessary equipment when you submit the application to ensure you are ready to accept delivery of your turtle.

Seek immediate medical attention. If time allows, wash the area with soap and water, and use items such as alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on the area.

Anytime anyone handles a turtle, feeds them or cleans their habitat, they should wash their hands with hot, soapy water or use an alcohol-based antiseptic to minimize transmission of the salmonella bacteria. It is permissible to wear latex gloves while handling turtles.

The turtles being reared through Operation Endangered Species come from a variety of sources—the St. Louis Zoo, Tishamingo National Fish Hatchery (Oklahoma), Brookfield Zoo and the Peoria Zoo. All turtles placed in the classroom were born in captivity. The adults used for the breeding program may have come from the wild, or were captive-reared turtles that had reached breeding age.

No, this is normal behavior for Alligator Snapping Turtles. Do not try to separate two turtles when one is biting the other; it will eventually let go. In nature, it is not unusual to see a turtle without the tip of its tail, perhaps because of this very behavior.

Aquarium-grade water is tap water treated with a product that removes chlorine and chloromines. Water treatment products can be purchased at stores selling pet supplies. In March 2013, prices at two locations were:

Alligator snapping turtles do not bask. ASTs will wedge themselves under a rock or submerged log in nature, and placement of a rock, brick or submerged log in the aquarium will replicate this habitat feature.

Each school is responsible for acquiring all necessary supplies.