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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,emailoregonturtles@gmail.comandsomeonewillgetintouchwithyou.
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
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