Bog Turtle - Jackson Werbelow

 Bog Turtle

 

Overview: The Bog Turtle, Clemmys muhlenbergii, is North America's smallest and rarest native turtle. This species is exclusively found in the United States, where it has a discontinuous distribution in twelve eastern states. Its northern population ranges from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York and continues southward through Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. A southern population is also found in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and northern Georgia.

 

This species is recognized by a combination of two distinct physical features: Bright yellow/orange spots on each side of the head and unique shells. Bog Turtle shells rarely exceed 4 inches in length and have a very dark brown base color, streaked with red and brown.                 

Due to its small size, the Bog Turtle has a higher vulnerability to predation. Turtle nests, young, and adults are often preyed on by raccoons, skunks, foxes, and other larger predators. Bog Turtles are omnivores. Their diet consists primarily of insects and several plant species.

Bog Turtles inhabit a variety of wetland types throughout their range, but they are generally small, open-canopy, meadows that are bordered by wooded areas. They primarily occur in small, discrete populations dispersed along watersheds. Although Bog Turtles are dependent upon this suitable habitat for ecological requirements, such as reproduction, they also utilize more densely vegetated areas for hibernation.

 

Geographic and Population Changes:

 

The northern population of the Bog Turtle is currently known to occur in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania .The species has experienced at least a 50 percent reduction in range and population over the past 20 years.

 

 

 

 

Listing and Main Threats:

 

The northern population of the Bog Turtle was listed as a threatened species on November 4, 1997. Today, it is considered critically endangered. The greatest threat to the survival of the Bog Turtle is degradation and fragmentation of its highly specialized habitat. Inadequate alteration within habitats result the migration of  these species to new potential sites. Human development, especially roads and residential construction, negatively impact the species’ ability to locate potential habitats. As a result, new populations are not being established as old sites perish.

Exploitation for commercial or private use is the second greatest threat to this endangered species. Their extremely small size, attractive shell, and rarity serve as incentives for their illegal trade. To reduce the illegal collection of Bog Turtles, all seven states have conducted outreach to their local and state conservation officers to inform them about the threat to Bog Turtles posed by illegal pet trade.

Today, reestablishing Bog Turtle colonies depend primarily on private intervention. To help existing colonies recover, several private projects have initiated the attempt to limit the growth of overshadowing vegetation, construction of new highways and neighborhoods, and other natural and manmade threats. Various methods are also implicated to recreate habitats. Some of these methods include: controlled fires, grazing of livestock, and even beaver activity.

Recovery Plan:
 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has created and is implementing a management initiative to provide long term conservation of Bog Turtle populations. The overall objective of the Bog Turtle recovery program is to protect/maintain the population of this species and its habitat. Doing so, would help enable the eventual removal of this species from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants.

The initiative consists of several main actions:

1. Establishing Cooperative Management Agreements:

Habitat areas used by a population would be under conservation management and protected by conservation ownership or other binding agreements. Many Bog Turtle sites are threatened by human activity that is often authorized, permitted, funded, or carried out by federal/state governments. This implication would reduce adverse effects caused by human activity.

2. Secure Long Term Habitat Protection

In each recovery unit, appropriate sites for conservation efforts would be identified and prioritized. The development of voluntary/cooperative conservation programs would help protect Bog Turtles and their habitat on private properties. This may lead to the purchase of protection sites on private land if necessary.

3. Conduct Additional Research

Additional research related to the Bog Turtle would promote effectiveness in monitoring this endangered species. Establishment of a standardized protocol to evaluate turtle sites would help identify factors that determine a “viable” population. Additional insight on general population health, reproduction, age structure, and habitat trend could ease the process of  locating new populations and determining their status/potential threats.

4. Investigate Genetic Variability

Measures of this investigation includes the determination of effective population size and its characteristics.This data would be useful when determining the degree of genetic exchange between/within populations, effective population size, the genetic impacts of reintroduction.

5. Maintaining Stable Habitats       

Determining a baseline of health parameters for Bog Turtles would increase the efficiency in maintaining habitat status. Where succession and invasive plant species pose threats to habitat, implementing safe methods to control these factors are needed. Maintaining habitats may also involve the introduction of captive bred turtles.

6. Effective Law Enforcement:

Implication of  new effective law enforcement programs would help reduce illegal trade. One strategy would be to establish neighborhood watch programs to monitor turtle sites for illegal collecting activity. Seeking maximum penalties for offenses related to collection, trade, and possession of bog turtles could also reduce incentive for their illegal capture.

7. Outreach and education programs:

Development of  public outreach programs would help spread awareness on the issue. Due to  the fact that many sites are often threatened by human activity authorized by federal/state governments, it is especially important to target local decision makers.

What can you do?

You can support the Bog Turtle by donating to conservation programs. An example of a program is the IUCN Red List. Its overall aim is to asses 160,000 endangered species, like the Bog Turtle, by 2020! A link to its page is provided below!

http://support.iucnredlist.org/species/bog-turtle

Petitions have also been created to raise awareness and promote intervention for the protection of the Bog Turtle. Below is a link to a petition that is trying to gain protection in New York! Help reach their goal of 25,00 signatures!

https://www.change.org/p/andrew-cuomo-protect-the-endangered-bog-turtle-in-ny-before-they-are-gone-forever

Many challenges are faced when working to ensure the long-term preservation of Bog Turtle populations. Fortunately, there is still a significant amount of suitable habitat that can support relatively large populations. Considerable progress has been made in identifying conservation needs and priorities. Overall, one the main thing we can do is help spread awareness!

Additional Sources:

1. http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. http://www.cites.org
3. http://www.arkive.org/bog-turtle/glyptemys-muhlenbergii/image-G34266.html
4. https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=C048      

References:

“Endangered Species Week: The Bog Turtle.” National Aquarium, 14 May 2013, aqua.org/blog/2013/may/endangered-species-week-the-bog-turtle.    

Group, Northeast Region Web Development. “Bog Turtle | Year of the Turtle | Northeast Region, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, www.fws.gov/northeast/ecologicalservices/turtle/species/bogturtle.html.  

“NY Grants Aim to Save Rare Bog Turtles, Habitat.” NY Grants Aim to Save Rare Bog Turtles, Habitat - Democratic Underground, www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x249372.   

US Fish and Wildlife Service. (2001) Bog Turtle (Clemmys muhlenbergii), Northern Population, Recovery Plan. Hadley, Massachusetts.