An invasive turtle species is being removed from Elsternwick Park Lake by the Department of Primary Industries.

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is removing red-eared slider turtles, an invasive species not native to Australia, to protect other animals. The trapping will take place from 9 to 13 November.

The turtles, native to North America, are a significant environmental pest and compete aggressively with native turtles for food, nesting areas and basking sites. They also carry diseases and parasites.

The DPI advises the turtles are an extreme establishment threat and could spread further in Victoria. The World Conservation Union lists the turtles as one of 100 of the world's worst invasive species.

The turtles are classified as a controlled pest animal pursuant to the Catchment & Land Protection Act 1994 and it is an offence to import, keep, sell or release pest animals. Bayside City Council Mayor Cr James Long said Council was working with DPI, the Department of Sustainability and the Environment, community groups and interstate government agencies in developing an eradication program.

The trapping campaign is also taking place at Blackburn Sanctuary Lake and Ruffey Park Lake in Doncaster East.

“Residents and users of the lake may have already noticed monitoring. Surveillance using a detector dog has already taken place,” Cr Long said.

The dog can detect the invasive turtles, which look and behave differently to our native turtles.

Red-eared slider turtles have a dome-shaped shell, while native turtles have a flat shell. When threatened, a red-eared slider turtles pulls its head straight back into the shell, while a native turtle retracts its head by folding its neck sideways into the shell.

They also have a distinctive red stripe behind each eye, while narrow yellow stripes mark the rest of the head and legs.

The DPI urges people to report sightings of unusual turtles by calling 136 186.

For more information, please contact Bayside City Council’s Communications Department on 9599 4444.