May 30th, 2013

Yesterday at Laurel Creek we had a Blandings turtle in our parking lot. It is a medium-sized turtle distinguished by it’s yellow neck and throat. It is also a threatened species in Ontario, due to loss of habitat and cars running over them as they try to find suitable nesting sites to lay eggs. Blandings turtles live in wetlands, and this one was wandering in the driveway beside our swamp. The shape of its plastron (lower shell) would indicate it is a female. Someone told me to feel around its backside for eggs and there was something roundish up in there. Blandings turtles don’t reproduce until they are 25 years-old, and can live more than 75 years. It is neat to think that a threatened species might be laying eggs on our property, though not many hatchlings make it to adulthood. The eggs get eaten by animals like raccoons and opossums, and baby turtles don’t have much protection from predators. Apparently they are small enough for even frogs to eat.

You can read everything you want to know about Blandings turtles here: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/CW69-14-222-2005E.pdf

Here is a great picture of the Laurel Creek turtle taken by outdoor ed. guy Al.

Click to see full-sized.