Clapster,
Well, you do really know how to draw me out of lurk mode, don't you? <g>
Let's see... turtles.
I spend a lot of time around them.
At this time of the year, most of the ones you will see
are female turtles crossing roads to get to their
traditional nesting areas.
If possible, it is better not to remove them from
the place where you find them.
Smaller turtles are sometimes ones that hatched from
nests and are making their way to their true habitat
where they will spend the rest of their lives except
for the return to a nesting area.
For snapping turtles, I have found them in many
different habitats -- living in ponds in fields
bordering forests,
or in small, slow-moving rivers with mucky banks
and sedge grasses,
and in small, deeper rivers.
I've even seen one walking on the bottom of a shallow,
very clear lake up here where I go paddling.
It was sort of floating-walking...like a giant
turtle ballerina, about 12 feet below my canoe
in super-clear autumn water.
If possible, when they are found on the road,
it is actually best not to move them across unless
it is a busy road and they are likely to be killed otherwise.
Best to just stop and oversee their crossing from a bit
of a distance, so that they complete the journey on their own.
Some research has indicated that, if you disturb the crossing
some turtles will turn around and recross the road
without laying their eggs -- usually because they have
voided and lost the fluid they may use to stay away from water
and also wet the sand when they are packing down the nest after.
Snapping turtles like to lay their eggs in sunny, gravelly places...
places with some gravel in the soil tend to somewhat
discourage predators such as otters, weasels, etc...
that would dig up and eat the eggs.
Even at that, places where I check turtle nests have
huge percentages of predataion and very few turtles
actually "make it" past the egg stage.. and then they
have to get to a pond or river while tiny...
and then survive for years until they are old enough to breed.
For example, the mature breeding age of a Blandings turtle
is something over 15 years... which is a long time to try
to survive before laying the first clutch of eggs...
probably explaining why that species is in such a decline.
For snapping turtles, common "traditional" nesting areas
are often the gravel sides of railway lines that pass
close to wetland areas or rivers. Sometimes, I have
found turtle nests at the rate of one every 10 feet or so
along such lines.
Roads next to marshes or passing right through marshes
are often mined into from the side for egg-laying.
You will probably see many crushed turtles in areas
where roads pass through wetlands.
Developers often use wetlands as "corridors", saying
that they disturb no one, but actually, they create
an sort of killing strip for wild life..
I refer to such roads or highways as a "Ribbon of Death".
Handling snapping turtles can be tricky...especially large ones.
We sometimes use a flat shovel that we keep in the
back of our van for just this purpose.
We carefully slide it under the turtle's plastron (undershell)
and then slide the shovel along the pavement to the roadside.
If it is a very large turtle and the shovel isn't big enough
(and yes, we have moved some enormous snapping turtles),
we keep a sheet of plastic in the back of the van
and put that over the shell before grabbing onto it far
back along the sides and carrying the turtle to safety
(always move it in the direction it is already heading).
Watch out for bites -- yes, for sure.
Turtles have very long necks and are extremely quick...
They can be very frightening -- often hissing and snapping
(not just Snapping turtles, btw. I have seen people bitten
by Blandings or even Painteds.. all of which can bite).
Snapping turtles that are angry, will raise their front legs
up and sort of stand tall and then lunge forward a few inches.
This is a quick and unexpected movement...
However, in saying all of the above,
any common sense will prevent bites, so don't be fearful of them.
Just be very cautious.
Wash your hands well after handling any turtles as all
can carry salmonella and in many cases, have also just come
out of ponds which are less than pristine as far as
pollutants and certain pathogens (a sign of the times unfortunately).
Snapping turtle shells are often covered with mud and algae
and will even have small rubbery black things attached
(these are leeches that parasitize the turtles, often
fastening themselves to the neck area of the turtle).
The leeches curl themselves into a tight ball while the
turtle is out of the water in attempt to survive
in the hot sun -- so that is what you are seeing
on the turtle's body...
This is a large female that we moved last year....
she was probably well over 25 pounds and quite feisty.
pbase.com
Certain species should probably be reported to wildlife
agencies in your area as they are becoming rare and
sightings are considered useful or important.
I wouldn't know for your area, but in my area,
sightings of Blandings, Map, Wood, and Musk turtles
and particularly the tiny "Spotted turtle" are considered
important for research. It is worth seeing if the equivalent
of our Ministry of Natural Resources might have an online
form for reporting endangered or threatened species sightings
of all herps (snakes, turtles, certain salamanders, etc..).
Usually, they require very good descriptions of the
place of sighting -- GPS coordinates are usually used...
I carry one with me at all times for this and other
similar purposes.
Anyhow, there's some turtle background for you.
There are more photos of the different species of turtles
commonly found in my area in the same gallery as the
snapping turtle photo if that interests you.
Well, speaking of turtles and such things...
have some things to do, then I'm out of here for the day
to spend some time out in the field...
(the place where I best like to be at this time of the year!).
(o:
~croc |
