A Multi‐Species Examination of Temporal Capture Trends in Freshwater Turtles

Accurate estimates of wildlife population demographics are essential for ecological research and conservation, yet field sampling is often constrained by limited resources and imperfect detection. Freshwater turtles, among the most threatened vertebrate taxa, are commonly surveyed using baited traps; however, behavioral responses to trapping may introduce bias into demographic estimates. We evaluated species‐specific temporal patterns in capture rates across multi‐day trapping periods using data from 102 wetland sites in North Carolina, USA (2023–2025). Standardized trapping protocols were used to sample six species, and generalized linear mixed‐effects models were applied to assess changes in daily capture rates. Capture rates declined significantly over time for five species— Chelydra serpentina , Chrysemys picta , Clemmys guttata , Kinosternon spp., and Trachemys scripta —with daily reductions ranging from 19% to 43%. In contrast, Sternotherus odoratus showed no significant temporal trend. Analyses of baiting regimes indicated that more frequent bait replacement did not consistently mitigate declines, although T. scripta exhibited increased responsiveness to bait freshness. These results suggest that short‐term behavioral responses, including trap avoidance, can rapidly influence detection probability and vary substantially among species. Consequently, survey designs that assume constant detection may produce biased demographic estimates. Incorporating species‐specific behavioral dynamics into both field methodologies and analytical frameworks will improve the accuracy and efficiency of freshwater turtle monitoring and conservation efforts.