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Turtles

BODY STRUCTURE
The shell covering a turtle's body consists of two parts. The upper part is called the carapace; the bottom half is called the plastron and they are joined at each side by a "bridge". Turtles have no teeth, instead their jaws are hard and bony with sharp edges. Of course, turtles are not able to leave their shells.

BASKING
Spending considerable amounts of time sitting in the sun on logs, rocks or embankments increases turtles' body temperature which provides them with better mobility. Basking also allows ecto-parasites (such as leeches) to drop off; most importantly, UV light produces vitamin D which helps turtles develop strong shells. Turtles are rarely seen basking when the air temperature is lower than the water temperature.

NESTS
Nests are dug by the female in June, or the beginning of July using her hind legs. Some species will excavate a number of holes and it is believed that these "false nests" may serve as deterrents for predators.

EGG LAYING
All turtles, including sea turtles, lay their eggs on land. After the female deposits her eggs in the nest cavity she covers them with soil and departs, having no further contact with her offspring.

YOUNG
The young hatch after an incubation period that averages two to three months for all Massachusetts species. They hatch from their shell underground, dig their way to the surface often during rainy periods when the earth is easy to move and then travel to their preferred habitat. Here in the north, the young of some species will sometimes overwinter in the nest.

WINTERING TURTLES
All but one of our turtle species overwinter in mud and leaf litter in the bottom of lakes, ponds, or slowing-moving streams. During warm spells some will become more active and can be seen swimming under the ice. The Eastern box turtle, a terrestrial species, burrows into loose soil or sand, or enters old mammal holes to spend the winter. The rare diamondback terrapin buries itself in tidal flats and coastal streams, but may emerge during prolonged spells of warm weather.

PREDATORS
Turtles have few predators other than people and their cars and some raptors. The eggs and hatchlings on the other hand are eaten by skunks, raccoons, fox, coyote, mink, bullfrogs, hawks, owls, and other carnivores. Even ants are known to kill hatching turtles.

SITUATIONS AND SOLUTIONS

TURTLES CROSSING ROADS
In late spring and early summer adult female turtles cross roads in search of nest sites. Each species has a different habitat requirement, but when searching for a nest site they usually choose sandy or loose soil in lawns, tilled or mowed fields, roadsides and occasionally backyard compost piles.

When people encounter a turtle crossing a road they often believe there is something wrong because it is out of water. They mistakenly attempt to return it to water, or worse, take it home or even worse, take it somewhere that seems safer and release it. First educate the caller and explain the reason for the turtle's journey.

The turtle should be left alone or returned to where it was found. The turtle knows where it wants to go and may have been nesting in the same spot for many years, often decades.

A small turtle can be moved, in the direction it was headed, to the other side of the road. Snapping turtles can be dangerous and should not be handled. They are surprisingly fast for their size and are able to stretch their long necks out of their shell quite far.

Of the ten species found in Massachusetts and those most likely to be encountered by people, seven are on the state endangered species list (all five of our marine species are both state and federally listed). Listed species are protected in Massachusetts and cannot be handled, killed, or kept as pets.

TURTLES LAYING EGGS IN YARDS
Turtles frequently invade yards, especially those near ponds, lakes, and rivers, as a result we receive many reports and questions.

These turtles are probably looking for a nest sites and should not be disturbed. When observed from a distance this an exciting event for children and adults to witness.

The question of whether or not to protect the nest with fencing is frequently asked. It is difficult to answer - predation is a natural occurrence in the wild and an important mechanism in maintaining populations which the environment can support. The only recommendation may be just to flag the site in order to locate it in the fall and possibly observe the hatchlings.

When a turtle is suspected of being a rare species it should be photographed to confirm the identification and the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program should be notified at (508) 366-4479.

TURTLES AND THE LAW
Massachusetts law makes it illegal to have in one's possession any turtle listed on the state and/or federal endangered species list (Blanding's, Bog, Diamondback Terrapin, Eastern Box, Plymouth Redbelly, Spotted, Wood, and all sea turtles). Although it is legal to take two of the non-listed turtle species, snapping, painted and musk, we discourage anyone from doing so. No turtles, including snapping turtles, can be caught and sold for food without a permit from the state.

TURTLE CONSERVATION
Turtles have inhabited our earth for over 200 million years populating New England's landscape even before the dinosaurs. They have fascinated children and adults for centuries, appearing in the artwork, folklore, stories and songs of numerous civilizations around the world. Yet, in recent years they have suffered a sharp decline due to the loss, and fragmentation of their habitat. In Massachusetts alone, seven out of ten of our native land and freshwater turtles are on the endangered species list.

Turtles depend on their longevity for the continuation of their species. The lifespan for most turtles is fifty years or more, therefore, once they become sexually mature (5 to 20 years, depending on the species) they can reproduce for 30 or 40 years. This is important because of the high mortality of their eggs and young.

Roads, and the inevitable development they bring, create serious obstacles for turtles. Many thousands are killed on Massachusetts roads each year as they move from one location to another in search of a mate or nest site. Roads cut breeding adults off from one another reducing the number of offspring successfully hatched each year.

Human impact on the places where turtles live has had a far-reaching effect on turtle populations. The conversion of open space to malls, houses, and office buildings takes a heavy toll on these small, slow creatures who can't easily relocate.

PROTECTING TURTLES
At least one turtle species can be found in every town in the Commonwealth. We do not have to look to far away places like the rain forest to save these unique creatures. Turtles live in our communities, our neighborhoods, and our backyards and we must work at the local level to protect turtle habitats.

• Become involved with the local Conservation Commission, Planning or Zoning Board, or Natural Resources Office.
• There are state funds, called Self-Help Funds, available to assist communities in purchasing land. In order to apply, the town must formulate a long-range open space plan to determine and prioritize parcels of land which are in need of protection.
• With the help of a high school biology class, scout troop, or other citizens, inventory the wildlife and plants in critical areas.
• Inform other residents of the issues. Write letters to local newspapers, let people know when hearings will be held and encourage them to get involved also to attend meetings.

WILD TURTLES IN CAPTIVITY
Another impact on turtle populations has been their collection as pets. Too often people will pick up a turtle in the wild without any knowledge of its species, its food and habitat needs, or its status on the endangered species list. We discourage people from taking any turtle from the wild for the following reasons:

• Turtles taken from the wild are unable to reproduce causing the depletion of local populations.
• Children, as well as adults, tire of the responsibility for the turtle's care and release it back into the wild. Depending on the age when captured, the length of time in captivity, and the location of release, many of these turtles do not survive.
• Turtles not properly cared for suffer from skin infections and shell abscesses.
• Inadequate nutrition can cause vitamin deficiencies resulting in eye disease, the softening of the shell, and the loss of bone mass.

Individuals who are seeking information on how to care for a wild turtle should be dissuaded from keeping it in captivity and encouraged to release it where it was found. Make every effort to help the caller identify the turtle, ask them to send pictures of the turtle with the location and date it was found. If it is a state listed species, the information should go to the Natural Heritage Program.

It is not our desire to discourage future herpetologists, instead, it is our goal to protect these unique reptiles for all people to enjoy in their natural habitats.

TURTLES OF MASSACHUSETTS

SNAPPING TURTLES: Chelydridae

Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)

• Habitat: found in virtually every waterbody in Massachusetts; ponds, lakes, rivers, streams with muddy bottoms, as well as fresh and saltwater marshe
• Food: Fish, frogs, salamanders, snakes, young waterfowl, insects, aquatic plants - the older a snapper gets the more vegetarian it becomes.
• Nest sites: Sandy or loose soil in lawns, fields, driveways or along roadsides.
• Eggs: Up to 75 with an average of 20-30, deposited in June and early July; they hatch in 10 to 12 weeks, usually during the month of September; some overwinter and emerge in the spring
• Lifespan: At least 47 years
• Wintering Sites: October to April in mud and leaf litter at the bottom of ponds, lakes, rivers and streams
• Interesting Fact: Studies indicate that the temperature if the soil surrounding the eggs determines the sex of the hatchlings. For example, some researchers have found that eggs incubated and 58 degrees, especially in the early stages, will be females.

MUSK AND MUD TURTLES: Kinosternidae

Musk Turtle or Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus) --
* Listed on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List

• Habitat: Slow moving water with soft bottoms such as ponds, lakes, quiet rivers and streams; aquatic; rarely basks; leaves water only to lay egg
• Food: Carnivorous; feed on mollusks, aquatic insects and their larvae;
  tadpoles, fish eggs and aquatic plants
• Nest sites: On land in loose soil, leaf litter, and under rotting logs; the female makes a shallow depression or just clears away the decaying vegetation lays her eggs and covers them over before she leaves
• Eggs: The peak egg laying season is June when 2-4 eggs are laid, they hatch in September or October after a 60 to 90 day incubation period
• Wintering sites: The bottom of lakes, ponds and streams; occasionally in muskrat holes in river banks
• Lifespan: At least 25 years
• Interesting Fact: When disturbed the musk turtles omit an odor from glands located between the carapace and the plastron

SEMI-AQUATIC POND AND MARSH TURTLES: Emydidae

Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii) *
* Listed on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List

• Habitat: Shallow, slow-moving streams, swamps, bogs, and wet meadows
• Nest sites: Open, sunny areas in bogs, fields, or meadows
• Eggs: 3 to 4 deposited in June or early July; they hatch in September after an 7-8 week incubation period, hatchlings may overwinter
• Wintering sites: Mud at the bottom of ponds, lakes, or slow-moving streams
• Lifespan: Unknown; probably 25 to 30 years
• Interesting fact: The bog turtle is the rarest Massachusetts turtle. Populations have diminished due to the draining of wetlands for development and because of their collection by humans.

Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata) *
* Listed on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List

• Habitat: Wet meadows, marshes, bogs, small ponds and slow-moving streams
• Food: Worms, small crustaceans, insects, spiders, frogs; occasionally aquatic plants
• Nest sites: Loose or sandy soil in open areas, fields and meadows
• Eggs: Average 3-4 laid in June; 70 to 83 day incubation period; the eggs hatch in late August or in September
• Winter Sites: From October to April in vegetation or mud in ponds, lakes, and streams
• Lifespan: At least 26 years, probably twice that number
• Interesting fact: Spotted turtles prefer cool temperatures and become inactive during hot summer days, settling into streams or digging into the leaf litter to remain cool.

Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta) *
* Listed on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List

• Habitat: Mainly terrestrial, they inhabit woodlands, coastal forests, marshes, and fields.
• Food: They feed both on land and in water; eating insects, earthworms, tadpoles, and mollusks; plant foods include algae, moss, grass, mushrooms, and berries
• Nest Sites: Located in areas with sandy soil such as fields, roadsides and embankments
• Eggs: An average of six to eight eggs are deposited in May or June and the young hatch approximately 75 days later in early autumn
• Wintering sites: They spend the winter underwater in mud or leaf litter; also in muskrat tunnels along streambanks
• Lifespan: 60 years or more
• Interesting Fact: When run through maze tests, wood turtles have shown intelligence equal to that of white rats

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) *
* Listed on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List

• Habitat: Mainly terrestrial, they inhabit woodlands, coastal forests, marshes, and fields
• Food: Their diet consists of both plants and animals; berries, fruit, grass, and fungi as well as, earthworms, frogs, snakes; insects especially beetles and grasshoppers
• Nest sites: In sandy soil or gravel
• Eggs: Average 4-6 deposited in May or June; young hatch in August or September after a two to three month incubation period; in the north the young may overwinter in the nest after hatching
• Wintering sites: In loose soil, sand, or leaf litter, old mammal holes, or in mud at the bottom of ponds or streams; as the soil freezes they burrow deeper into the soil sometimes going as deep as two feet.
• Lifespan: The oldest known vertebrate in the United State, is an Eastern box turtle at age 138 however, the average is 50 to 75 years.
• Interesting Fact: In the late afternoon box turtles construct a domelike structure from grasses or leaves, called forms, in which they spend the night. These forms can be used on several nights.

Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

• Habitat: They inhabit shallow bodies of water which offer good basking sites such as rocks, fallen trees, or gently sloping banks
• Food: A variety of aquatic plants and animals including: snails, small fish, and tadpoles
• Nest sites: Painted turtles leave the water to deposit their eggs in sunny locations in loose or sandy soil
• Eggs: Deposited from June to mid-July; the average clutch size is 5-6 eggs; hatching occurs from mid-August through September after a 70 to 82 day incubation period; young often overwinter in nest.
• Wintering sites: In mud and leaf litter at the bottom of lakes, ponds and slow-moving streams
• Lifespan: At least 13 years, but likely much longer
• Interesting fact: Basking is an important daily activity for painted turtles. They can spend as many as six hours a day in the sun using a favorite site day after day. Each day they begin basking at dawn and continue for several hours, they then forage for food underwater, return to the basking site in the early afternoon where they remain for several more hours.

Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingi) *
* Listed on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List

• Habitat: Shallow bodies of water with muddy bottom and an abundance of aquatic vegetation
• Food: Crustaceans, insects, fish, crayfish, snails, and aquatic vegetation
• Nest sites: Areas in sandy soil are preferred
• Eggs: The number varies from 6 to 11 and are deposited in June or early July and the hatchlings appear in August or September
• Wintering Sites: Beneath the water in leaf litter; sometimes seen swimming under the ice
• Lifespan: At least 11 years, 9 months
• Interesting Fact: The Blanding's turtle is listed as threatened on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List with localized populations in Worcester and Middlesex Counties.

Diamondback Terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) *
* Listed on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List

• Habitat: Brackish water in coastal estuaries, marshes, and mud flats
• Food: Snails, crabs and other small crustaceans, marine worms and some aquatic plants.
• Nest Sites: Located above the high-water line in sandy beaches and dunes, and loose soil along tidal marshes and rivers
• Eggs: During the nesting season, April to the end of July, the female lays four to twelve eggs; hatching takes places in September or October
• Wintering Sites: Spends the winter in the mud of tidal flats, ponds and streams, but will emerge during warm spells
• Lifespan: At least 40 years
• Interesting fact: Diamondback terrapins, which live in water with varying concentrations of salt, are able to eliminate excess salt through orbital (eye) glands.

Plymouth Redbelly Turtle (Pseudemys rubirentris) *
* Listed on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List

• Habitat: The Plymouth Redbelly Turtle lives only in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. They prefer freshwater ponds with basking sites and an abundance of aquatic vegetation
• Food: Diet consists mainly of aquatic vegetation, but may eat fish, snails, and tadpoles occasionally
• Nest Sites: In sandy soil in an open area usually within one hundred yards of the pond
• Eggs: The female lays 10-20 eggs in late June or early July; hatchlings emerge between late August and October; unseasonably cold temperatures in late summer may cause the young to overwinter and emerge the following spring
• Wintering Sites: Mud and leave litter in pond bottoms
• Lifespan: Forty to forty-five years
• Interesting Fact: The Plymouth Redbelly Turtle is listed as endangered by both the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It has been negatively impacted by the development of land surrounding ponds, the use of herbicides in ponds and cranberry bogs and

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