Turtles, chapter two
Turtles are still crossing the roads…and now they’re laying their eggs on the sandy shoulders. They do this every year, and every year there are nests that are alarmingly close to the macadam. And every year some egs and little turtles are lost, of course.
A listener sent photos this morning of a turtle laying HER eggs in/on his driveway, and asked what to do to protect h
is turtle “creche?”
“so now that mrs. turtle has determined that our driveway is the perfect nursery – what’s our next step? should we mark it with paint and fence it? fyi, her chosen spot is not in the middle of the drive path – and we do have a dog. bemusedly yours, rob”
I immediately referred the question to Curt Stager, the brains behind our Natural Selections partnership, who’s also been watching mother turtles near his house:
“Sadly, one of our big females got smashed on the sandy edge of Keese Mills Road after starting a few false nests. We’ve also covered a nest near our house with chicken wire in hopes that the foxie-family that lives a hundred yards away doesn’t snack on them (they left grouse egg shells and a pile of feathers near the den the other day).”
So, there’s a suggestion. It might work with some dogs. I’m hoping for some follow up pictures of Rob’s hatchlings.
By the way, one of our on-air cautions about turtle crossings last week brought one of the nicest e-mails I’ve ever recieved here, from a listener in Plattsburgh:
“I just have to say that it makes me infinitely proud to belong to a public radio station that reminds people that it is turtle travel time and to be careful driving. I have a long history of stopping for turtles, helping them get to the other side… (snip) Now, I am Chair of the Board of Trustees at Vermont Commons School where our mascot is the flying turtle and our motto is “Give ‘Em Shell!”
Yeah! Or maybe, give ’em shelter!!
Yesterday,.I stood and Watched a painters turtle dig the hole, deposit her eggs and skillfully bury them , amongst my newly planted Strawberry patch,which is about 100 ft from Little sucker Brook, I was humbled to learn that she did it all with her hind legs and feet, I’d never known the particulars before taking the the time to watch , I’d always assumed that they did the work with their front legs, There are lots of other turtle tracks in my garden ,both large snappers and more painters as well, I know there are numerous other nests there somewhere.I’m 49 yrs old and still have a lot to learn from the wonders of mother nature, How many days does it take them to hatch ??
Turtles always have strategies for self protection. So she lays her eggs face forward to stay alert for interruptions and to defend her eggs.
Down here (central Florida) our gopher tortoises dig long (30-40 ft.) deep (10 ft.) borrows. When they get about a yard down, they make a chamber where they can pose sideways if need be to keep out invaders. At the end of their burrow is a resting chamber. They usually have an emergency escape exit.
The period of incubation is subject to environmental conditions—it is generally from two to three months.