Bog Turtles: Muck, Man Bog Turtles: Muck, Man and Managementand Management

Pamela ShellenbergerPamela ShellenbergerBiological TechnicianBiological Technician

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Current RangeCurrent Range

Bog Turtle Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii)(Clemmys muhlenbergii)FactsFacts

There are over 100 known There are over 100 known bog turtle sites in bog turtle sites in PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe bog turtle is one of the The bog turtle is one of the smallest turtles in North smallest turtles in North AmericaAmerica85% of bog turtle habitat is 85% of bog turtle habitat is found on private landfound on private landLongevity Longevity –– Some bog Some bog turtles are known to live for turtles are known to live for 40 years and longer 40 years and longer Bog turtles are omnivores

Photo By Andrea M. TetiBog turtles are omnivores

Habitat Characteristics Habitat Characteristics -- WetlandsWetlandsHYDROLOGY –

typically groundwater dependentRivuletsRivuletsSprings/SeepsSprings/SeepsForested as well as Forested as well as emergent wetlands emergent wetlands Mosaic of wet and dry Mosaic of wet and dry areasareas

Photo By Andrea M. Teti

Habitat Characteristics Habitat Characteristics -- WetlandsWetlandsSOILS

Photo By Andrea M. Teti

Mucky Mucky –– soft and soft and saturatedsaturatedSurvive and Hibernate Survive and Hibernate in mucky soils at 4in mucky soils at 4””--66””in depth and greater in depth and greater Mucky soils often Mucky soils often underlain by harder, less underlain by harder, less permeable soil layer permeable soil layer (clay)(clay)

Habitat Characteristics Habitat Characteristics -- WetlandsWetlandsVEGETATION

Emergent Emergent –– may include may include scrubscrub--shrub and/or forested shrub and/or forested componentscomponentsTypical herbaceous plants: Typical herbaceous plants: sedges, rushes, cattails, rice sedges, rushes, cattails, rice cut grass, reed canary grass, cut grass, reed canary grass, teartear--thumbs, jewelweed, thumbs, jewelweed, skunk cabbage, sweet flag, skunk cabbage, sweet flag, sensitive fernsensitive fernTypical Trees/shrubs Typical Trees/shrubs –– red red maples, alders, willows, maples, alders, willows, dogwoods and poison dogwoods and poison sumacsumac

Reproduction CharacteristicsReproduction CharacteristicsCopulation commonly Copulation commonly occurs from late April occurs from late April to early Juneto early JuneNormally lay 3Normally lay 3--5 eggs5 eggsEgg laying usually Egg laying usually occurs in the moist moss occurs in the moist moss and earth in tussock and earth in tussock sedges sedges Egg laying occurs in Egg laying occurs in low to no canopy cover low to no canopy cover wetland areas wetland areas ––emergent wetlandsPhotos By Andrea M. Teti emergent wetlands

Bog TurtlesBog Turtles are Federally listed as a are Federally listed as a Threatened SpeciesThreatened Species

ThreatenedThreatened is defined as any species which isis defined as any species which islikely to become an endangered species withinlikely to become an endangered species within

the foreseeable future throughout all or athe foreseeable future throughout all or asignificant portion of its range. [ESA 3(20)]significant portion of its range. [ESA 3(20)]

The northern population of the bog turtle was added to The northern population of the bog turtle was added to the Endangered and Threatened Species List on the Endangered and Threatened Species List on

November 4,1997.November 4,1997.

Bog Turtles are listed as a State Endangered Species.Bog Turtles are listed as a State Endangered Species.

Why are bog turtles threatened?Why are bog turtles threatened?

Habitat (loss, Habitat (loss, fragmentation and fragmentation and degradation)degradation)Illegal killing/collectionIllegal killing/collectionPollution Pollution Competition with other Competition with other speciesspeciesDiseaseDiseasePredationPredation

What is the USFWS doing about it?What is the USFWS doing about it?

Section 7 (ESA) Consultation Section 7 (ESA) Consultation –– interagency interagency consultation to conserve Federally listed consultation to conserve Federally listed species and designated critical habitatsspecies and designated critical habitatsIssue Biological Opinions and Incidental Take Issue Biological Opinions and Incidental Take StatementsStatementsImplementing recommendations in the 2001 Implementing recommendations in the 2001 Bog Turtle Recovery PlanBog Turtle Recovery Plan

Environmental ReviewsEnvironmental Reviews

Review permitted projects throughout the Review permitted projects throughout the entire State entire State Over 3800 projects reviewed this calendar yearOver 3800 projects reviewed this calendar yearOver 50% of those being bog turtle projectsOver 50% of those being bog turtle projectsResidential/commercial development; oil and Residential/commercial development; oil and gas wells; mine reclamation; timber harvest gas wells; mine reclamation; timber harvest projectsprojects

Determine Action Area

Known BT Site?

Are any wetlands present?

CONSULTY

NDocument

for FileN

YDo Phase 1 Survey

YIs potential habitat present? N

Y

Y

ASSUME Presence&

AVOID impacts

Do Phase 2 survey

Are bog turtles present?

Document & Submit

N

CONSULTDocument & Submit

Document & Submit

Section 7 Section 7 Consultation Consultation ––Bog Turtle Bog Turtle Effects Effects AssessmentAssessment

Phase 2 SurveysPhase 2 SurveysTracking the bog turtle…

Photos By Andrea M. Teti

Search TechniquesSearch Techniques

Poking with polesPoking with polesHand, knee and arms Hand, knee and arms –– searching in tunnels searching in tunnels and subterranean meadow vole burrowsand subterranean meadow vole burrowsTrapping (Phase 3 Survey)Trapping (Phase 3 Survey)RadioRadio--Telemetry Telemetry

BMPs RecommendedBMPs Recommended

300300’’ buffers around known sitesbuffers around known sites5050’’ buffers around known travel corridorsbuffers around known travel corridorsSeasonal restrictionsSeasonal restrictionsSilt fenceSilt fenceBog turtle surveyor on site during constructionBog turtle surveyor on site during constructionNo tree planting within 200No tree planting within 200’’ of wetlands of wetlands (CREP)(CREP)

RecoveryRecoveryPartners for Fish and WildlifePartners for Fish and Wildlife –– Effects ofEffects ofTriclopyr Triclopyr (Garlon)(Garlon), Imazapyr , Imazapyr (Arsenal)(Arsenal), and , and

Glyphosate Glyphosate (Roundup)(Roundup) on Woodyon WoodyVegetation in Potential Bog Turtle HabitatVegetation in Potential Bog Turtle Habitat

The goal of the project was to control The goal of the project was to control successional woody vegetation in potential successional woody vegetation in potential bog turtle habitatbog turtle habitat2626--acre site owned by the Nature Conservancyacre site owned by the Nature ConservancyHerbicides applied June 2004Herbicides applied June 2004Monitoring June 2005Monitoring June 2005

Plot LayoutPlot Layout

EE--Z Ject LanceZ Ject Lance

Emergent WetlandEmergent Wetland

Other PartnersOther Partners

Working with the Natural Resource Conservation Working with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Berks County Conservancy, Service (NRCS), Berks County Conservancy, Lancaster County Conservancy, Natural Lands Lancaster County Conservancy, Natural Lands Trust, The Nature Conservancy to put conservation Trust, The Nature Conservancy to put conservation easements on private land easements on private land

Remember…85% of bog turtle habitat is found on private land.

Why did the turtle cross the road?Why did the turtle cross the road?

To get to the shell station.To get to the shell station.

Do you have any

questions?