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