got turtles 101218 - united states fish and wildlife service€¦ · western pond turtles, photoby...
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Gotturtles? Ifyouhaveturtlesinyourpond,wetlandorotherslow-movingwateronyourproperty,luckyyou!BothspeciesofOregon’snativeturtlesareuncommon,andit’shardforthemtofindsuitablehabitat.You’llwanttomakesuretheconditionsyouprovideforthemstaysuitableorevenimprove.Wehaveresourcestohelpyou! WesternPondTurtles,PhotobySimonWray
Turtleshavefairlysimpleneeds,whichyoucanhelpprovide:
1) BaskingareasAfterspendingthewinterhibernating,turtlesneedtohauloutofthewaterinspringandearlysummertowarmupinthesunshine.Theyoftenselecttreesorlargetreebranchesthathavefallenintothewater.Ifthereisnonaturaldownedwoodinyourpondorwetland,consideraddingsome.Turtlesliketobaskonwoodastheycanquicklydropintothewatertoavoidpredators.
2) NestingareasWhenit’stimetolayeggs,femaleturtleslookforsparsely-vegetatedareasthatgetplentyofafternoonsun,sincethesun’sraysincubatetheeggs.Suitableturtlenestinghabitathascompactsoils,usuallywithahighclaycontenttohelpthenestkeepitsshapeandmakeitharderforpredatorstodiguptheeggs.Youcanenhancenestingareasbyprovidingpatchesofsparselyvegetatedorbaregroundinsunnyareasclosetoyourpond.
3) FoodandhidingcoverYoungturtlesconcealthemselvesfrompredatorsinrushes,sedges,duckweedandothervegetationattheshallowedgesofthepond.Turtleseatworms,aquaticbugs,fishandotherhighproteinitemsthathelpthemgrow.Allturtlessnackonaquaticvegetation,soit’simportanttohaveahealthyplantcommunityinyourpond.Nativeplantsattractavarietyofinvertebrateswhichinturnbecomefoodforturtles.Someshrubby/forestedhabitatnearbyisidealassometurtlesover-winteronland.
4) Minimaldisturbance
Turtles,turtlenestsandhatchlings,andevenhibernatingturtles,aresensitivetodisturbance,whetheritbefrompetdogsswimminginpondsoccupiedbyturtles,kayakersgettingtooclosetobaskingturtles,ornestingturtlesdisruptedbymowingequipment.Turtleswillbemorelikelytouseyourpondifbaskingandnestingareasarealittlemoreprivateandawayfromareasofregulardisturbance.
WesternPaintedTurtle,PhotobyPortofPortland
Whatkindofturtlesdoyouhave?InOregon,wehavetwospeciesofnativeturtles,thewesternpaintedturtleandthewesternpondturtle,andseveralspeciesofnon-nativeinvasiveturtles.Checkoutturtleidentificationinformationathttps://www.oregonturtles.com/species.htmlDon’thaveturtles,butwantthem?It’sillegaltocapture/relocateorbuyturtlesandturnthemlooseinyourpond.Focusinsteadonprovidingsuitablehabitat–the“builditandtheywillcome”approach.Turtlesareverycapableofandareknowntomakelong-distancetrekstonewlycreatedandenhancedhabitats.Inanycase,improvinghabitatinandaroundyourpondwillmakeitmoreattractivetosongbirds,dragonflies,frogsandotherawesomecreatures.Youcan’tlose!Seeturtles?Reportthem.Biologistsaretrackinglocationsofturtles(bothnativeandnon-native)inOregon.Letusknowifyouspotturtles,whethertheyareonyourpropertyorsomewhereelse.Youcanreportyourturtlesightingatwww.oregonturtles.com/report.htmlorwww.inaturalist.org/projects/western-pond-turtles-in-oregonThefirststepinmakingsureturtlepopulationsremainstableisknowingwheretheyare!Getmoreinformation.AnabundanceofinformationonhowtohelpOregon’snativeturtlescanbefoundinafree,downloadablepublication:http://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/living_with/docs/ODFW_Turtle_BMPs_March_2015.pdf
Askforhelp.Ifyouhaveturtlesonyourpropertyandwanthelpimprovingconditionsforthem,[email protected].
HabitatOccupiedbyTurtles,PhotobyODFW
The Oregon Native Turtle Working Group was formed to share expertise among various organizations and agencies involved in turtle conservation and to promote appreciation and conservation of native turtles by all Oregonians. www.oregonturtles.com