Turtle Journal

Ten-Year-Old Male Eastern Box Turtle

With overnight showers, Tuesday morning seemed opportune for an Eastern box turtle hunt at Mass Audubon’s Great Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in Wareham.  And so it proved, as Don Lewis and Sue Wieber Nourse both spontaneously spotted this handsome turtle strolling across the landscape.

Young Male Box Turtles with Bright Red Eyes

Bright red eyes, brilliant orange stripes and patterns on his skin and shell, mixed with a dash of mellow yellow dots on his neck and lines on his carapace; this fellow flashed a bold designer look for the Spring 2013 Eastern box turtle scene.  Who says turtles aren’t fashionistas?

Young Male Box Turtle at MAS Great Neck Wildlife Sanctuary

This young male marks the sixth Eastern box turtle that we have discovered at the Great Neck Sanctuary.  A recap of four other box turtles finds can been seen in the Turtle Journal story:  Eastern Box Turtles @ MAS Great Neck Sanctuary.

Eastern Box Turtle in MAS Great Neck Wildlife Sanctuary

After marking this gentleman as #66, and obtaining his vitals, the Turtle Journal team released him deep and safely inside the Sanctuary’s protected woodlands.

Basking Diamondback Terrapins in Buzzards Bay Estuary

After ten years of intensive research and focused conservation efforts on the SouthCoast of Massachusetts, Turtle Journal savored the image above from Buzzards Bay’s Sippican Harbor.  In 2003, this population of terrapins teetered on the brink of extirpation.  Thursday afternoon’s display of basking and “dating” turtles sported more diamondback terrapins than we have ever recorded.  The rock shown above held five mature females and three mature males.  Surrounding rocks held more adults, as well as basking juveniles.

Sue Wieber Nourse Captures Basking Terrapin #329

Sue Wieber Nourse spotted a mature female terrapin basking in the Spartina grass at the water’s edge.  She swooped into the spot and hand-captured mature female #329, an important player in restoration of the Buzzards Bay terrapin population.

Female Diamondback Terrapin #329

Terrapin #329 is a very large, mature female terrapin.  She tips the scales at 1.5 kilograms and her shell measures 8.5 inches long.  From a conservation perspective, these large, mature females are the most important factors in producing new recruits to the population.  They lay larger eggs that yield larger, more viable hatchlings; their natal nesting site has proven viable over the years.

Terrapin #329 Nesting at Tabor’s Schaefer Oceanology Lab

Last July 2nd, Sue checked the Tenbrook Beach at Tabor Academy’s Schaefer Oceanology Lab where she previously served as director.  Under her leadership, this beach from 2003 through 2005 had yielded the first protected nests in Buzzards Bay as the beginning of the Turtle Journal conservation program. 

Terrapin #329 Nesting at Schaefer Oceanology Lab, July 2012

On this July 2012 morning, Terrapin #329 was laying her second nest of the year, and Sue was able to harvest the 12 perfect eggs, protect them through incubation and return 12 perfect hatchlings safely to the abutting nursery salt marsh.  Such conservation efforts have proven a huge boost to the terrapin population in Buzzards Bay.  See Rare Turtle Nests at Schaefer Oceanology Lab.

Female Diamondback Terrapin #701

On Thursday we also recaptured mature female #701.  She is even larger than #329, registering 1.7 kilograms and 8.7 inches long.  We last saw this lady on 21 May 2010 in the Sippican Harbor mating aggregation.

Female Diamondback Terrapin #601

We first captured mature female #601 on that same day in May 2010, and we have seen her each year since in the Sippican Harbor mating aggregation.  On Thursday, this younger female weighed only 1.1 kilograms and measured just 7.4 inches long.

Female Diamondback Terrapin #253

Turtle #253 is a large mature female who we have been tracking since June 2004.  She weighs 1.5 kilograms and her carapace measures 8.2 inches long.

Female Diamondback Terrapin #340

We encountered mature female Terrapin #340 again on Thursday.  Don Lewis netted her as she cavorted with male Terrapin #41 (see below).  You may recall Turtle #340 from last Thursday, May 10th, when Don discovered her pairing with male Terrapin #304.  Clearly, she is a popular lady in the Sippican mating aggregation.  (See Sippican Harbor Terrapins.)

Female Diamondback Terrapin #41

We found two new terrapins on Thursday whom we had never observed previously.  Mature female Terrapin #41 beamed a broad smile during her first interaction with humans.

Male Diamondback Terrapin #40

On the other hand, bashful male Terrapin #40 hid inside his cowl to demonstrate his disdain for this first encounter with researchers.  He did, however, sport a dashing Buzzards Bay mustache to compensate for the lack of a smile.  Although sexually mature at five years old, Terrapin #40 weighed only 193 grams and measured just 4.3 inches long.  Fully mature males achieve only half the linear size and less than a quarter of the mass of mature terrapin females.

Sue Wieber Nourse Holds a Handful of Terrapins

Friday brought a sunny interlude, a southerly breeze and mid-60 temperatures to Marion.  Sue Wieber Nourse and Don Lewis packed kayaks, paddles and nets, and headed to Head of Sippican Harbor to check activity in the mating aggregation.  Brisk winds kept turtle action to a minimum with only a few snorkeling heads and two basking turtles perched on rocks.

Four Diamondback Terrapins from Sippican Harbor

Don spotted a pair of diamondback terrapins near the south bank.  A large female snorkeled across the surface while a male bobbed behind her.  Don thrust paddle into the water and powerd his kayak on an intersecting course.  The female dove for the oozy bottom and the male followed intently, focused exclusively on the object of his affection.  Don swooshed his long pole net in front of the female, and in a single stroke scooped the adorable couple into the kayak.

Adorable Couple: 340 Female Followed by 304 Male

This adorable couple, Female #340 and Male #304, illustrates the gender dimorphism of the diamondback terrapin species.  Typical adult females are twice the linear size and more than four times the mass of adult males.  Both turtles had previously been captured and marked by the Turtle Journal team in Sippican Harbor.

Female Diamondback Terrapin #340 (Sippican Harbor)

Female #340 is quite a feisty lady.  Sue captured and marked her last April 17th in Head of Harbor.  Since last year, she has grown .25 centimeters in length and width, and added 9 grams to her healthy weight. 

Male Diamondback Terrapin #304 (Sippican Harbor)

Handsome Male #304 was first captured and marked by Don on July 30th, 2006.  In the last seven years, he has grown nearly 1.5 centimeters in linear dimensions and gained 80 grams weight.  As you can see above, he sports a stylish “mustache.”

Female Prepubescent Female #37 (Sippican Harbor)

Juvenile Terrapin #37 is a new capture in Head of Sippican Habor.  She’s only four years old, measures 10.5 centimeters carapace length and weighs 173 grams.  She has passed safely through the long list of lethal challenges that confronts hatchlings and juvenile terrapins, and #37 has a good chance of reaching maturity and nesting in another three or four years.

Female Prepubescent Female #38 (Sippican Harbor)

Sue netted Juvenile #38 in Little Neck Cove across from the Marion Town Landing.  This five-year-old prepubescent female measured 11.0 centimeters long and hit the scales at 210 grams.  Like #37, she has beat the longest odds against terrapin survival, and with any luck, she will reach maturity and begin nesting in another three years.

Male Snapping Turtle at SouthCoast Bog

For the Turtle Journal team, Spring isn’t really Spring until snapping turtles begin to prowl, looking for love in all the right and wrong places.  And when you’re a mature male snapping turtle, like the handsome critter above, no one is foolish enough to tell you that you’re in the wrong place.

First Prowling Snapper at Washburn Park

Sue Wieber Nourse and Rufus encountered the first snapper on the prowl on Friday, May 3rd.  This healthy and feisty male emerged from swampy wetlands to cross the walking path into the large reservoir at Washburn Park.  He was particularly unamused to find Sue and Rufus in his way, and he employed Darth Vader-like hissing and multiple power snaps to clear these inconvenient mammalian obstacles from his determined path.  You may know that a snapper turtle’s neck can stretch (a.k.a. snap) nearly half the length of its shell quicker than human brain and body can react.

Male Snapping Turtle in SouthCoast Bog

On Saturday, we visited a large, quiet SouthCoast cranberry bog for another chance to see these living prehistoric fossils in action.  We walked along bog channels and peered into a deep mucky “elbow” pool.  Through the murk we could just make out the spooky shape of  a giant shelled reptile lying on the bottom, something straight from the Jurassic era as though beamed through the ages by an H.G. Wells Time Machine.

“You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Net!”

Don Lewis carried his trusty sampling net, jerry-rigged with a long, eight foot extension pole.  He scooted down the bank and scooped the large snapper from the murky water.  Normally used for capturing terrapins and small fresh water turtles, the poor net bowed and groaned under the weight and the fight response of this impressive reptile.  In the back of his head, Don heard echoes of Jaws’ Chief Brody, “You’re gonna need a bigger net!”

Rufus Gives Snapper a Wide Berth

Nevertheless, Don lifted the snapper to the top of the bank where Rufus had supervised the struggle.  She decided to give this aggressive critter a wide berth and to let humans handle the situation.

Snapping Turtle Plastron

One reason I believe that snappers are so aggressive, compared to terrapins and box turtles and painted turtles and spotted turtles, is the small plastron that guards its underbelly.  Unlike those other species that are well protected by a hard shell from potential predators, snappers’ soft meaty parts are exposed and vulnerable.  Best strategy for a snapper is to force potential threats to keep their distance with a powerful snap and claws the thickness and the strength of railroad spikes.  Does a Tyrrannosaurus rex come to mind?

Snapping Turtle’s Dinosaur-Like Tail

Snappers have an extraordinary tail that seems straight from the dinosaur design book.  The humps and bumps along its luxurious length remind us of a sauropod, as does its thickness and strength.  Next to a chomp from its snappy jaws and a tear from its steely claws, our least favorite choice would be to sustain the whip of its powerful dinosaur-like tail.

Male Snapping Turtle Up Close and Personal

Whatever the rationale for their aggresssive behavior, Turtle Journal must admit that it seems to work very well … for perhaps 200 million years.  Few folks and even fewer critters  have the infinite bravado and the infintesimal good sense to confront an angry snapping turtle without utmost caution and protection.  The Turtle Journal team finds snapping turtles irresistible reminders of a time long, long forgotten.  They remain near the top of our list of favorite turtle species.

Male Terrapin in Outer Cape Mating Aggregation

May 2nd brought perfect turtling conditions to Outer Cape Cod with bright sunshine, a light breeze and a noon astronomically low tide.  Visibility in the South Wellfleet mating aggregation was exceptional as illustrated by the photograph above as this male diamondback terrapin swam through the clear tidal water.  We sampled turtles in this prime Outer Cape mating aggregation to assess the level of activity in this late spring season.  We discovered, unsurprisingly, that love is in the air … and in the water, too … on Outer Cape Cod.

Rufus the Turtle Dog Tracks Male Diamondback Terrapin

In less than 30 minutes, with Rufus’ help of course, we captured and processed 22 turtles, all mature adults.  No prepubescent juveniles were observed.  Ten turtles were marked specimens; 12 were new and had never been seen before.  Netting that many turtles in so short a period of time is an indication both of the level of mating activity and the perfect conditions.  Notice Rufus tracking the male terrapin in the lower right corner of the picture.

Female Diamondback Terrapin #834

Of the ten known turtles, several were old friends.  Female Diamondback Terrapin #834 has been tracked by the Turtle Journal team since 2000.  We’ve learned a great deal about this lady in the last 13 years.  We know that she nests on dirt roadway Way #100 on Lieutenant Island and now we know her mating aggregation location.

Terrapin #834 Emerges from Brumation in 2009

Terrapin #834 is one of the first terrapins in Wellfleet Harbor to reveal her brumation site.  The “before and after” pictures from late April 2009 show Terrapin #834 as she emerged from winter brumation in Wrong Step Creek near the Lieutenant Island causeway.  The black ooze visible in the picture on the right is the spot where the Turtle Journal team watched her rise from the primordial ooze.

Male Diamondback Terrapin #8127

We were a bit surprised by the ratio of 15 males to seven females, especially since in capturing terrapins there is a decided bias in favor of netting the larger females.  Male terrapins are just a tad more than half the length and less than a quarter of the mass of female terrapins.

Female Diamondback Terrapin #118

Another old friend we found was Terrapin #118, the Grande Dame of Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.  She has been observed in our longitudinal study since 1988; that is, for the last quarter century.

Female Terrapin #118 with Distinctive Forked “Devil’s” Tail

Terrapin #118 nests along the Sanctuary’s Goose Pond Trail and she is easily recognizable because of her distinctive forked (Devil’s) tail, documented since her first sighting in August 1988. 

We hope to see Terrapin #834 nesting on Lieutenant Island in early June and Terrapin #118 strolling along the Goose Pond Trail on a nesting run around the same time.   Then, with any luck, we’ll observe a repeat performance in early July for the second nest of the season for each of these ladies.