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Home , Loggerhead sea turtle, Macrochelys, Manouria, Russian tortoise

of the News No. 9 September 2011

Basking in the Wonder of www.YearoftheTurtle.org Taking Action for Turtles: Year of the Turtle Federal Partners Work to Protect Turtles Across the U.S. Last month, we presented a look at the current efforts being undertaken by many state agencies across the U.S. in an effort to protect turtles nationwide. Federal efforts have been equally important. With hundreds of millions of acres of herpetofaunal habitats under their stewardship, and their many biologists and resource managers, federal agencies play a key role in managing turtle populations in the wild, including land management, supporting and conducting scientific studies, and in regulating and protecting rare and threatened turtles and . What follows is a collection of work being done by federal agency partners to discover new scientific information and to manage turtles and tortoises across the U.S. – Terry Riley, National Park Service, PARC Federal Agencies Coordinator

Alligator Snapping Turtles at common and distributed throughout habitat use, distribution, home Sequoyah National Wildlife all of the area’s major river systems. range, and age structure. Currently, Refuge*, Oklahoma Current populations have declined the refuge collaborates with Alligator The appearance of an Alligator dramatically and now are restricted Snapping Turtle researchers from Snapping Turtle ( to a few remote or protected Oklahoma State University, Missouri temminckii) is nearly unforgettable locations. Habitat alterations and More Federal Turtle Projects on p. 8 – the spiked shell, the beak-like jaw, overharvest have likely contributed the thick, scaled tail, not to mention to their declines. Sequoyah National the unique worm-like appendage that Wildlife Refuge boasts one of the lures their prey just close enough to healthiest populations in the state. become a meal. In eastern Oklahoma, Over the past 15 , the refuge this unique was once relatively has served as an important study area, producing insights into their Inside: page Year of the Turtle Partners 2 An Interview with James Gibbs 3 Turtles in the News 4 Turtle Foundation 5 Marine Turtle Conservation 6 Citizen Science Programs 7 Turtle Spotlight 15 Graduate Researcher Mitchell East, Missouri State University, Department Turtle Mapping 16 of Biology, handles an adult Alligator Meet the YoT Team: Terry Riley 17 Snapping Turtle. Photo by Darren A 31 pound Alligator Snapping Turtle Riedle. R. Bruce Bury & Turtles 18 (Macrochelys temminickii) captured *The National Wildlife Refuge System is at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, SWPARC Regional Spotlight 19 Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. Photo by staffed and administered by the U.S. Fish Turtle Talk 20 Eric Johansen. and Wildlife Service, Dept. of the Interior. “Behold the turtle. He makes progress when his neck is out.” — James Bryant Conant (1893-1978), educator and scientist Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 2 Get Your September Calendar! Andy Adams photographed this newly-hatched Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) making a break for the water on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. Get a better look at this month’s winner and runner-up by downloading your calendar at parcplace.org/ images/stories/YOT/YearoftheTurtleCalendarSeptember.pdf And it’s STILL not too late to enter the 2011 Calendar Photo Contest! We are accepting entries all year long. Give us your best shot! For more information and for entry details, please visit www.parcplace.org/news-a-events/224.html.

Do you have turtle art, stories, or poetry that could be highlighted during the Year of the Turtle Art, Turtle? Submit your turtle art (in jpg, tiff, or pdf format) and copies of your stories and Stories, and poems via email to [email protected]. We will be including submissions Poetry in upcoming newsletters and in other Year of the Turtle materials and outreach efforts throughout 2011, and we want your work to be part of it! September Collaborating Partners The Year of the Turtle Planning Team is pleased to welcome the following organizations to our growing list of collaborating partners.

Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is active in two initiatives to preserve and assist in the propagation of Gopher Tortoises and the Alabama Red-bellied Turtle ( alabamensis). ALDOT received the 2009 Regional Director’s Conservation Award from the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service for its continued efforts in the recovery of fish and wildlife resources in Alabama, including establishing an 800-acre conservation bank for the threatened gopher . ALDOT’s mission is to provide a safe, efficient, environmentally sound transportation network across Alabama. www.dot.state.al.us

Dallas-Fort Worth Herpetological Society is a 501c3 organization with a strong conservation ethic and focus on natural history and science. We were at the forefront of a move to protect box turtles in Texas from commercial exploitation (through the Partnership of Texas) and have been involved in herpetological surveys at two nearby nature centers. We partner with the Fort Worth Nature Center annually for an educational event that teaches hundreds of citizens about snakes and other herps of our area, and are involved in a variety of other educational events throughout the year. www.dfwherp.org

The Sandalwood Herpetology Club is actively engaged in raising Brown Mountain Tortoises, , Chinese Pond Turtles, reevesii, and Box Turtles, Terrapene carolina bauri, at school. We have an almost 1000-square-foot enclosure that is partitioned off for each species. Our students are learning about the plight of each species specifically and the entire turtle crisis worldwide in general.www.duvalschools.org/sandalwood/herpetology

Our full list of partners can be found at http://parcplace.org/news-a-events/year-of-the-turtle/237.html. If you are interested in contributing to the Year of the Turtle efforts, please send an email to [email protected] with a brief description of your organization and its efforts. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 3 An Interview with James Gibbs By Al Breisch, PARC Joint National Steering Committee Co-Chair 3. What guidance on turtle conservation do you have for policy and decision makers? I don’t think decision makers really understand both the liabilities and opportunities that turtles present as a focus of conservation. Turtles are not typical “wildlife” with demographies like the game we all learn about in college biology courses. In terms of liabilities, populations are very sensitive to any form of adult mortality, yet in terms of opportunities, turtle longevity can permit us some leeway and time “to get it right.” I’m reminded of a population of tortoises that failed to breed for 80 years due James Gibbs and a tortoise in Santiago, 1999. to rat predation but eventually received some attention and James P. Gibbs is a professor at the State University now is doing well. That’s an example of the opportunities of College of Environmental Science and turtles provide us. On the other hand poachers remain Forestry in Syracuse. He is co-author of several books on active but are not paid much attention to… with every conservation biology and “The Amphibians and adult goes some 5-6 decades of offspring or say 500-600 of New York State: Identification, Life History and hatchlings. That’s an example of the extreme liability of Conservation.” turtle populations—it’s hard to get folks excited about doing something about 2-3 tortoises poached every year 1. How did you become interested in studying turtles and at but it is a “big deal.” I do think few of us understand the what age did your interest in turtles start? long-term dynamics of turtle populations…for example, I grew up in a house on the shore of the Ottawa River what will be the consequences of the extremely high nest north of Montreal and as a child poking around the river predation rates Snapping Turtles are experiencing now margins those mossy leviathans of the deep – Snapping in 50 years? Are we currently enjoying the consequences Turtles - that emerged from the river on occasion to nest of a large standing stock of Snapping Turtles delivered or on the ends of fishing lines made a big impression on to us by conditions 50 years ago when nest predator me. I really got hooked on turtles as objects of study as a numbers were much lower? Last, I really don’t think folks post-doc participating in the first comprehensive survey understand the global nature of turtle trade and how the of giant Galapagos Tortoises. It took 15 years to move through the archipelago and visit all the tortoise country therein. I’ve measured some 6000 tortoises yet every new tortoise remains a delight to encounter. I am happiest looking for tortoises somewhere out in the great tangle of lava and vegetation that comprises the Galapagos. 2. In your opinion what is the biggest conservation issue facing turtles, given the myriad threats out there today? Wetland loss and conversion of upland habitat remain the biggest threats. We can’t lose the focus on that. There is no doubt that over-collection is the main issue in many parts of the world, both for food and the pet trade, but without habitat nothing is possible for turtle conservation. Our landscapes have been transformed by agriculture much to the detriment of all turtles, aquatic James Gibbs weighing a tortoise and terrestrial, and agriculture will continue be a driving at San Cristobal, force degrading turtle habitats as the human population Galapagos Islands, grows around the world. Ecuador. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 4 great vacuum effect of the Asian markets is now reaching accidents, and logistics associated with their work everywhere and is not about to relent anytime soon. It saving giant tortoises over the last few decades…it’s a is absurd that we still commercialize wild populations of manifestation of their true dedication to these creatures. some species of turtles in some parts of the US despite it Some will tell stories of living under starvation conditions being contrary to the public trust doctrine that has served and under severe water limitation for weeks to reach all other wildlife in North America so well. suspected tortoise hide-outs on the far sides of volcanoes, Why are turtles exempt? just to know whether tortoises were there or not and how they were doing. Why do people take such risks and 4. What is your favorite turtle or group of turtles? endure such hardships? It can only be a love of turtles. I do like Snapping Turtles… every time I see one I marvel at their pugnacious nature, their incredible vulnerability 6. What advice would you give young people (or adults) who associated with that puny plastron, the lovely odor they love turtles and want to work with them? generate, their penetrating hazel-colored eyes, and the Embrace and kindle your love of turtles but combine general ancientness they emanate that make me suddenly it with understanding of turtle biology and turtle feel like the mere, recently evolved ape that I am. conservation politics...the synergy of the three together will make you an effective advocate for turtles. Most 5. Do you have a favorite field story or defining moment as important, go out into the field every chance you get so a turtle biologist? you don’t lose touch with the animals themselves. You For me I most enjoy sitting around the fire with will advocate most strongly for that with which you have guardaparques of the Galapagos National Park who will a personal bond and much direct experience. talk for hours deep into the night about their adventures, Turtles in the News Is there a turtle crisis looming for A recently discovered Western Pond Read more on these alarming sea turtles along the Great Barrier Turtle in Edmonds, Washington was statistics at www.mmtimes. Reef off the coast of Australia? The given to the Woodland Park Zoo as com/2011/news/589/news58917. World Wildlife Fund has received part of these efforts, according to html. numerous reports of large numbers Edmonds Patch at http://edmonds. of sick, starving, and dead turtles patch.com/articles/endangered- And finally, be sure to catch up washing up on beaches in April. western-pond-turtle-found-in- on some of the turtle happenings in The increase in turtle deaths may be edmonds-could-bring-new-genes- Connecticut from TheDay.com at more than five times higher this year to-the-breeding-pool. www.theday.com/ compared to the same time last year. article/20110807/ The full story can be accessed from For more information on Western NWS01/308079942/1018 and the WWF at Pond Turtles conservation efforts, be www.theday.com/ wwf.panda.org/?201274/Turtle- sure to check out this month’s “Turtle article/20110807/ crisis-looms-for-Great-Barrier- Spotlight” on NWS01/308079936/1018, Reef. recovery efforts in Washington and as well as in Massachusetts from the California as well as an article on State Wildlife Research News Blog at The Western Pond Turtle Recovery “Mapping US Turtles” in this issue of wildliferesearchnews.blogspot. Project of Seattle’s Woodland Park the Year of the Turtle News. com/2011/08/state-of-turtle.html. Zoo, now in its 20th year, has helped to increase the population of this The Myanmar Times reports that If you have items you would like Washington state- 50% of Myanmar’s illegal wildlife to contribute to Turtles in the News, from 150 to 1,500 turtles. Read more trade is in turtles and tortoises. From please send them for consideration to from the Seattle Times at January 2010 to April 2011 alone, [email protected]. seattletimes.nwsource.com/ 22 individuals were convicted of html/localnews/2015760462_ attempting to smuggle 3,725 turtles turtles29m.html. or tortoises out of the country. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 5 The Turtle Foundation – Working to Protect and Conserve Endangered Sea Turtles year over 1100 female loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) had been slaughtered for their meat when they came ashore to nest. This represents about 15% of the nesting population, the third largest in the world. In 2008 we began protecting one beach, and each year we’ve expanded the project. Turtle collected on Sangalaki Island, Indonesia, when The Turtle An old loggerhead turtle carcass sits Foundation project began. near one of Turtle Foundation’s beach camps on Boavista Island, . The Turtle Foundation was founded in 2000, when some divers involved in turtle conservation on and a filmmaker from Europe Boavista, and we work with hotels visited Sangalaki Island in Indonesia and other beach construction projects and were shocked to discover that to make their buildings as turtle- nearly every nest laid by the Green friendly as possible, particularly Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) on with regard to habitat destruction A tries to nest and lighting. Boavista is a growing that island and four others nearby near a hotel construction zone on was dug up and the eggs sold as a Boavista Island. tourist destination, and we strive to delicacy – this despite the fact that make turtle conservation benefit both This year, with participation of the sea turtles are threatened with turtles and the community. international volunteers and support extinction and officially protected We are a small, primarily volunteer from the Cape Verde military, six under national and international organization, dedicated to protecting beaches are being patrolled. In 2010, law. They decided to act on behalf and conserving endangered sea turtles. only 10 turtles were killed on our of these magnificent endangered For more information, check out our protected beaches. We collect data creatures. As a result of our efforts, website www.turtle-foundation.org, on the turtles, organize community an agreement was eventually reached our Facebook pages, and our blog education programs and beach with the local government to stop www.turtlefoundationcv.blogspot. cleanups, hold beach camps for school the collecting in 2002. Turtle com. children, and help train local tour Foundation currently protects three guides. We are a founding member of of the islands, employing 15 local the Cape Verde Sea Turtle Network, rangers year-round, and is working bringing together stakeholders to protect the last two islands. On Sangalaki alone, more than 1.5 million hatchlings have been allowed to reach the ocean as a result of our project. Turtle Foundation is also working to increase protection for the spectacular marine reefs in this area, threatened by reef bombing, cyanide fishing, shark fishing, and illegal driftnetting. Turtle Foundation’s ‘School Our second major project, in in Nature’ participants pose Cape Verde, West Africa, began in with trash collected from the beach. 2007 when we learned that in one Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 6 A Brief History of Marine Turtles and the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s International Marine Turtle Conservation Program By Earl Possardt, USFWS International Marine Turtle Program Officer For over 120 million years, marine turtles roamed turtles, global demand for exquisite jewelry made from the seas fulfilling their ecological roles and evolutionary the scutes of the Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), destinies unimpeded by any serious threats to their and an ever-increasing trawl, longline line hook, and gill existence. They survived and flourished even when the net fisheries accidentally capturing and killing tens of great dinosaurs were vanishing from the earth about 65 thousands of sea turtles. We came very close to driving million years ago. As recently as 3 million years ago, the Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) to extinction in marine turtles were still diverging into the seven species the last century, the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) we now recognize during our relatively short human is in imminent danger of extirpation from the Pacific, history. Archaeological evidence demonstrates our earliest and Loggerheads (Caretta caretta) face increasing threats interactions with and exploitation of these marine species from fisheries throughout every stage of their for food were in Kwazulu, South Africa in the Middle marine life cycle in every ocean basin. Recognizing the Stone Age, 49,000 and 50,000 BP. With low human severe threats to sea turtle species, six of the seven species populations and limited hunting and fishing technology, were listed as either Endangered or Threatened in 1978 exploitation was sustainable and sea turtles and humans under the authority of the U.S. Endangered Species Act coexisted. This began to change in the 1400s, when by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National European exploration brought large fleets of ships and Marine Fisheries Service, who share responsibility for the their crews to the Western Hemisphere. Nesting turtles conservation of marine turtles. in the Caribbean were easy sources of fresh meat and, For more information, visit www. even better, the turtles could be kept alive on deck for fws.gov/northflorida/SeaTurtles/ months to ensure the availability of fresh meat for the seaturtle-info.htm and www.fws. fleets while they traveled the seas in search of new lands gov/international/DIC/species/ and treasures. The first evidence of overexploitation was marine_turtles/marine_turtle. the extirpation of the (Chelonia mydas) html. Further information on the nesting population in the Cayman Islands, the largest USFWS International Marine known in the Caribbean. Turtle Conservation Program can also be found in the Fast-forward to the 20th century, and there were March issue of the Year of the Turtle News, available at vast numbers of coastal inhabitants exploiting nesting www.yearoftheturtle.org. populations for eggs and meat, directed fisheries for sea

Plastic Pollution: Our Plastic Trail and Its Effects on Sea Turtles In an editorial published in the Marine Turtle Newsletter The good news? We can do something to reverse these earlier this year, marine biologists Dr. Colette Wabnitz of the impacts. Wabnitz and Nichols provide a variety of measures University of British Columbia and Dr. Wallace Nichols of the that can be done by everyday people to assist in bringing about California Academy of Sciences shed light on the dangerous an end to this “sea” of plastics in the ocean. Actions that you impact of plastic bottles, bags, and other products on sea can take include: turtles. The facts highlighted by Wabnitz and Nichols included: • Avoid buying plastic-bottled beverages • Worldwide, plastic pollution is adding to the stress on • Buying products with minimal or reusable packaging endangered ocean wildlife, like sea turtles • Buying in bulk whenever possible to reduce packaging • Plastic can be ingested by or entangle sea turtles and can • Buying used items physically interfere with their nesting activity on beaches • Seeking out reusable shopping and produce bags and always when it accumulates in large amounts taking them along when you shop • Approximately half of all sea turtles surveyed had ingested • For coffee and or tea: bring your own mug plastic items • For food: bring your own container • Micro-plastics are accumulating in the molluscs and The entire March 2011 press release as well as the official crustaceans that sea turtles eat editorial from Drs. Wabnitz and Nichols can be accessed from seaturtle.org at www.seaturtle.org/plasticpollution/. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 7 September’s Featured Citizen Science Programs Get involved in a citizen science agencies. Volunteers have many ways Contact Information (volunteer) program in your they can help, including walking a Ecovolunteer Program neighborhood, community, or beach in search of turtle tracks and Meijersweg 29 elsewhere! nests, guarding nests, especially near 7553 AX Hengelo Citizen science places volunteers hatching time, responding to turtle Netherlands of all backgrounds and ages in strandings, and transporting injured Chamber of Commerce, Twente, # partnerships with organizations turtles to rehabilitation centers. Data 06087803 and scientists to collect important gathered by participants is made Phone: +31.74.2508250 biological data. This month we available to biologists for study. Turtle Fax: +31.74.2506572 continue to highlight sea turtle conservation is facilitated directly by E-mail: [email protected] citizen science programs, including interactions between participants and http://www.ecovolunteer.org/ ways you can become involved in by biologists. (Click on “Reptiles: Sea Turtles”) North Carolina, Thailand, and in Contact Information fact anywhere around the world you Matthew Godfrey may observe a sea turtle! A full list of Phone: 252-728-1528 International Sea Turtle all our US and international turtle Observation Registry E-mail: [email protected] citizen science programs can be found http://www.seaturtle.org/groups/ In an effort to aid sea turtle biologists at www.yearoftheturtle.org. We ncwrc/index.html and conservationists, iSTOR and thank everyone who has contributed seaturtle.org collect information on information on their citizen science turtle sightings. Anyone can report programs to the Year of the Turtle Ecovolunteer a sighting online, and live turtle thus far. Are you involved with a turtle sightings are used by biologists and citizen program or have information conservationists to understand the on a specific project that you would distributions of sea turtles around like to share? Please send information the world. Dead turtles can also be on your citizen science programs to reported so that cause-of-death can [email protected] be determined and authorities can be and make sure your project helps us This program is located on the notified (if needed). The organization get more citizens involved in turtle Phra Thong Island, Thailand. The keeps an online map of recent turtle science! objective for the program is to aid Leatherback, Olive Ridley and Green observations for the public. http://www.seaturtle.org/istor/ North Carolina Sea Turtle Project sea turtles. This is done through monitoring and protection of turtle This project is facilitated by nesting sites. Behavioral habits such the North Carolina Wildlife as foraging of juveniles on and near Resources Commission’s Division the island are also monitored to of Wildlife Management. The goal increase the knowledge of sea turtles. of the initiative is to monitor North Along with working with sea turtle Carolina’s sea turtle population research, volunteers have the chance using volunteers, organizations, and to learn about Thai wildlife, help with rehabilitation of the Mangrove Forest and restoration projects of the reef, teach children in a local school English and about the environment, and aid tourist awareness about the conservation efforts taking place on the island. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 8 Sea Turtle Educational Materials Now Available! A variety of teacher resources – including lessons Are You an Educator or Interpretive Naturalist? and games on sea turtle conservation – are available We continue to work to develop a collection of Year from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Visit dhp.disl.org/ of the Turtle resources for teachers and naturalists to resources.html, where you can access these lessons and use for turtle education. If you are willing to share, others resources for teachers. This wonderful curriculum please send your unit materials, educational program was designed by Stephanie Wright Serra and Joan Turner, information, websites, or PowerPoint presentations Marine Educators at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. to [email protected]. Please include Dauphin Island Sea Lab is located on Dauphin Island on your name, the name of your school/nature center or the coast of Alabama. This curriculum has been presented organization, and location. If you did not create the at the National Science Teachers Association conference materials, please be sure to tell us where you found the in San Francisco and at a local workshop funded by materials. NOAA Oil Spills Education.

Federal Turtle Conservation Efforts, continued during construction to help turtles from p. 1 hide from predators. Root masses, State University, and Lincoln piles of branches, large clumps of University. Their research will fill sod, and leaves were placed in the critical knowledge gaps, such as the waters of newly restored wetlands community structure of turtles in near the Trinity River in California wild populations versus introduced to help the rare Western Painted sites, diet overlap with other species, Turtle. A wetland built last year with the effects of a 3-year moratorium on Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea these features near Kamloops, British blandingii), by Melanie Foose. turtle harvest, and long-term local Columbia has been colonized by and regional changes in population Wetlands and streams are being Western Painted Turtles. structure. – Dustin Taylor constructed with features that turtles Turtle sites are being can use for feeding, nesting, and created during wetland and stream The Center for Wetlands and hibernating. Large logs and loose restoration projects, including Stream Restoration Partners with mounds of soil are being placed in sites created from springs that had PARC in Restoring Wetlands and wetlands and streams that turtles been historically drained on the Streams for Turtles can use for sunning. These restored Monongahela National Forest in PARC is working with the Center habitats are being used by the West . The restoration for Wetlands and Stream Restoration Blanding’s, Eastern Painted, Eastern involved disabling buried log drains, (CWSR) to restore wetlands and Box, Common Snapping, Softshell, reshaping basins, loosening soils that streams for turtles across North Spotted, and Western Painted Turtles. had been compacted by livestock, America. Large numbers of wetlands Complex habitat features are and then placing the logs back into of different shapes, sizes, and depths being added to wetlands and streams the completed wetlands. are being built to benefit turtles in The CWSR is creating nesting fields, forests, and rangeland. Streams habitat for turtles near wetlands and that were historically moved and streams by loosening compacted straightened provide poor habitat for soils surrounding these habitats. turtles. Creeks that were converted to Patches of sandy loam found during ditches are now being restored with construction are shaped to create sinuous floodplains and channels islands and moved to sunny places containing numerous pools and above the water level near the restored wetlands for turtles on the Daniel areas. Boone National Forest in Kentucky. Eastern , Chrysemys You can learn how to restore picta picta, by Tom Diez. wetlands for turtles and other species Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 9 by reading Wetland Restoration and Volunteers line up the Kemp’s Ridley hatchlings Construction—A Technical Guide, by on South Padre Island at Thomas R. Biebighauser. Published a public release, 2011. in partnership with PARC, the new Photo by Rachel Arney. book contains detailed instructions for restoring wetlands at a low cost. You are also encouraged to attend one of the hands-on wetland restoration workshops offered by the CWSR and PARC. A schedule for wetland training can be found by visiting www. wetlandsandstreamrestoration.org. -Thomas R. Biebighauser, U.S.D.A. with nest monitoring, and provides The Kemp’s Ridley most commonly Forest Service, Daniel Boone National technical assistance and equipment. nests along the shores of Rancho Forest, Kentucky Interns and volunteers through Nuevo, Mexico, but its range extends LANWR and STI patrol 64 miles well into the Padre Island National Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles at of beach on the island seven days a Seashore near Corpus Christi, TX. Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife week from mid April to mid July. On This year has been a successful year Refuge*, Texas any given day there are three to four for all beaches in Texas, with the most female Kemp’s Ridley nests since the Where the Rio Grande empties into individuals driving the length of the project’s inception in Texas in 1980. the Gulf of Mexico is where Kemp’s beach on ATVs scanning the sand for Donna J. Shaver, Ph.D., Chief of the Ridley Sea Turtles (Lepidochelys signs of a nesting female. Division of Sea Turtle Science and kempii) return every summer to nest Indications of a female coming Recovery, National Park Service, at in the warm tropical sands of Texas ashore include alternating Padre Island National Seashore has beaches. To ensure the continued tracks in the sand. Occasionally a recorded a total of 199 Kemp’s Ridley progress of this highly endangered sea lucky few will spot a female in the nests this season and an additional 5 turtle, the staff and volunteers of the process of digging her nest cavity Green Sea Turtle nests for the Texas Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife and laying her eggs. This is the coast. Refuge (LANWR) make their own time when the female gets tagged Although the Kemp’s Ridley nesting annual return. with a unique six-digit metal tag on season is coming to a close, other Since 1999, the refuge has been her front left flipper, and a Passive species of sea turtles have been known working to restore the Kemp’s Ridley Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag for to nest along the South Texas beaches population on the beaches of South future identification. The eggs from including Greens, Loggerheads, Padre Island. Working with the each nest are excavated and placed Hawksbills, and Leatherbacks. Due Gladys Porter Zoo and Sea Turtle, in a corral and monitored for 45-55 to the tireless dedication of many, Inc. (STI), a non-profit organization days. The hatchlings are then released the Kemp’s Ridley species is one step committed to the restoration of all from a safe location on the beach. further from extinction. sea turtles, the refuge supports at The public is often invited to watch - Rachel Arney least one intern every year to assist a release. Onlookers watch as Kemp’s Ridley hatchlings make their way to the water on South Padre Island. Photo by Rachel Arney.

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Specialist Stacy Sanchez with a Kemp’s Ridley hatchling. Photo by Rachel Arney. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 10 Ecology and Conservation Common Musk Turtle, of Turtles in Western North odoratus, by America: Long-term Monitoring by Tom Diez. the USGS and Partners The Western Pond Turtle occurs in western North America from Washington to northern Baja California. Earlier, it was proposed for Federal threatened status but was not found warranted for listing. It remains a species of concern to the public and many agencies. Common Musk Turtles at the To improve our understanding Hanson and Aaron Schwartzhoff, Upper Mississippi River National of this turtle, I continue specific Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Fish Refuge* studies and have produced several co- (DNR) fisheries staff. They have also authored publications on the ecology The Upper Mississippi River loaned us the nets we are using to of the species. In graduate school National Wildlife and Fish Refuge capture turtles. We’ve trapped over I started a long-term monitoring in cooperation with the Iowa DNR one hundred turtles so far, including of one population in 1968-1971. Guttenberg Fisheries Management 2 male and 2 female musk turtles. Recent revisits revealed that a few of Office is conducting a study about They have been fitted with small radio those marked turtles (ca. 5%) are still the Common Musk Turtle (Stinkpot, transmitters, their shells uniquely alive today. These records show the ). Data will be notched to identify them, and now remarkable longevity of some adults collected on population numbers and we are tracking their movements and a few are estimated >55 yrs old. composition, habitat preferences, and weekly. One male turtle has stayed movement. in the same area so far, the other Very little is known about this one, nicknamed Stinky, has crossed secretive creature, even though it is the open channel and moved about a listed in Iowa. one mile away. We’ve also seen a This Stinkpot population is on the significant amount of nest predation, northern edge of its range. Unlike probably by ” [Procyon lotor]. most turtles that like to bask in the Even though they are one of the sun, this turtle spends most of its life world’s smallest turtles at 6 inches, they underwater in backwaters, marshes, put up a fierce fight when disturbed, and ponds. They are nocturnal, resting clawing and biting aggressively. If during the day buried underneath the this does not work, they spray a mud or in thick aquatic vegetation. foul, musky odor, earning them the Western Pond Turtle, marmorata, by Susan Thomas. At night they walk along the bottom nickname “stinkpot”. Henkenius probing the mud with their head to confirmed, “They’re not shy. They Recently, a team of us submitted a search for crayfish, mussels, tadpoles, stretch their long neck around and “handbook” that covers its biology, snails, and insects. They are rarely try to bite you. At least I haven’t been sampling techniques and conservation seen on land except when the female sprayed yet.” (see Year of Turtle News, June 2011). is laying her eggs. Refuge and Iowa DNR staff will This effort is a consortium of many Baited nets are being set in a variety continue trapping, marking, tracking, private, state, and federal agencies, of locations to try and capture musk and recording data until the turtles including the California Dept. Fish turtles. The nets are checked within go into hibernation this winter. The and Game, Oregon Dept. of Fish twenty-four hours after they are set. information learned about these and Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, Refuge staff Neil Henkenius said, turtles will be used to help guide and Bureau of Land Management. “This study would be difficult to future management of musk turtles Once released, it and other recent do without the dedication of Kevin and their habitat. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 11 advances will be highlighted in a implemented as a place to share regulations and the administration regional workshop to be hosted by information and tools for a variety of of the convention. Between these the Western Section of The Wildlife audiences. The site offers: major COPs (the last was COP 15 Society in spring 2012. All these • Three pages highlighting Northeast in 2010), parties carry out the work efforts represent dedicated work by a Region work on turtles of concerns and decisions of the COP through broad spectrum of interested people, – Blanding’s, Bog, and Cooters three sets of annual committee organizations, and agencies. • Photos of turtles species found in meetings – the Animals Committee Providing information to the the Northeast (AC), the Plants Committee, and the public and agencies is a priority. In • Turtle videos Standing Committee. the last two years alone, I delivered 8 • Fliers The 25th meeting of the Animals outreach efforts on turtles including • Lists of events, volunteer Committee was held in Geneva presentations on field data at 3 opportunities, and citizen science Switzerland July 18-22, 2011. Trade scientific meetings, organizing programs pressure on reptiles continues to be sessions on freshwater turtles an issue that the Animals Committee (two conferences) and providing In addition, we encourage our readers to watch two videos from addresses. At this year’s meeting workshops (twice). both Asian snakes and turtles were Lastly, a few turtle experts in USGS the USFWS – one from the Partners for Fish and Wildlife on restoring on the agenda. Issues are discussed started preliminary discussions to by the larger plenary group but develop a federal effort on turtle important habitat, www. recommendations to that group are research and monitoring, not unlike available on their home page at fws.gov/partners (scroll down to the made by a smaller working group. the existing program of ARMI Working groups were formed for (Amphibian Research Monitoring video), and the second on the release of headstarted Blanding’s Turtles in both snakes and turtles. As far as Initiative) in the Department of the turtle agenda items went, the IUCN Interior. Although entirely informal, Massachusetts, available currently on www.youtube.com/ Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle this is meant to better coordinate the YouTube.com at watch?v=hqbs4TuJMsM. Specialist Group was previously research and management work of commissioned to prepare a report on government scientists with interest in “a study of progress on conservation turtles of North America. It is meant of and trade in CITES-listed tortoises to complement other groups such as and freshwater turtles in Asia”, upon PARC that is already dedicated to which the working group based their the cause for turtles. These efforts recommendations. all contribute to spreading the word In its final recommendations about turtle conservation under the (AC25 WG7 Doc. 1) the Animals broader theme of the Year of the Committee agreed to: Turtle. – R. Bruce Bury, U.S. Geological • undertake a study to identify and Survey (Dept. of the Interior), Forest Bog Turtle, Clemmys muhlenbergii, by John Vanek. discuss factors of relevance to and Range Ecosystem Science Center making Non Detriment Findings Turtles in CITES: U.S. (NDFs) for tortoises and freshwater U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Involvement in Regulating the turtles and report progress to AC26 Northeast Region launches a Year International Trade of Wildlife and CoP16; of the Turtle Website The US Fish and Wildlife Service • make recommendations to amend The USFWS Northeast Region has is responsible for implementing the Appendices for turtle species launched a Year of the Turtle website the Convention on International based on a review of the results as a channel for engaging partners Trade in Endangered Species of of 2010 North American Turtle and the public in the challenges Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Trade Workshop, St. Louis and the facing turtles and the conservation for the United States. CITES 2011 Asian Turtle Conservation work across the Northeast U.S. The parties meet every two to three Workshop, Singapore by AC26; website (www.fws.gov/northeast/ years at their Convention of Parties • encourage Parties to engage ecologicalservices/turtle) is being (COP) to discuss changes in trade partners with expertise and Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 12 Attendees participate USDA Forest Service Region 5 in the 25th meeting of the CITES Animals (California) National Forests’ Year Committee in Geneva, of the Turtle Projects Switzerland. The Angeles National Forest: USFWS participates in these meetings on Los Angeles River, San Gabriel behalf of the United River and Santa Clara/Mojave States. CITES regulates the international trade Rivers Ranger District - Leslie Welch in wild animals and (Wildlife Biologist) monitors the plants. recovery of pond turtles and their habitat affected by the 2009 Station Wildfire, with projects that limit resources when evaluating disposal relevant information on Appendix- access with closures, and removal of options for confiscated live turtles, II species subject to levels of trade non-native fauna and flora. such as repatriation or addition to that are significant in relation to the conservation breeding programs; population of the species, in Eldorado National Forest: • note that accurate NDFs are to identify problems concerning the Georgetown Ranger District: undermined by the undocumented implementation of the Convention, Jann Williams (Fisheries Biologist) trade in parts and derivatives and and possible solutions. Species subject continues to monitor a pond affected by the questionable use of source to the Review of Significant Trade by the 2006 Ralston Wildfire. codes, requesting that the Standing are selected by the Animals or Plants Collaboration with Matt Triggs Committee emphasize these Committees. Non-compliance by any (American River RD), the Horseshoe topics in its recommendations and State with the solutions recommended Bar Fish and Game Preserve and expressing concern about trade by these Committees may ultimately Trout Unlimited transplanted willow management challenges; and lead to a recommendation by the starts and created basking structures • requested that the Standing Standing Committee to suspend trade in 2010. Committee consider proposing a with that State in specimens of the decision at CoP16 directing Parties species concerned. Two new range- to report on their implementation wide species reviews— of enforcement and compliance unifilis and homeana—were recommendations. added to this process and join the In addition to the working group, other turtles (at various stages of turtle species were discussed in Review range reviews): annandalii, of Significant Trade. The Review of Heosemys grandis, Heosemys spinosa, Significant Trade (Resolution Conf. horsfieldii (, 12.8 [Rev COP13]) is a review common in the pet trade), and of the biological, trade, and other cartilaginea (Asian Softshelled Above: Ralston Pond, Eldorado Turtle), currently in significant trade. National Forest, California. The Asian turtle trade will be further Below: Willows planted as part of discussed at the Standing Committee restoration sprout on the banks. in Geneva August 15-19, 2011. While the Animals Committee discusses recommendations pertaining to science of the trade for the convention, the Standing Committee will discuss management and implementation of the convention. –Thomas Leuteritz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Pet Russian Tortoise (Testudo Department of the Interior) horsfieldii) reposes on a garden clog. Photo from Dede Olson. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 13 Lassen National Forest: habitat. Hat Creek Ranger District: Karen Groveland Ranger District: Roy Harville (Wildlife Biologist) and Bridgman (Wildlife Biologist) Danny Burton (Fisheries Biologist) mitigated the collision and potential provide oversight of studies and mortality with migrating pond turtles future monitoring of pond turtles on on a non-system road by closing it hydroelectric projects along the Pit with strategically placed boulders. River. To better monitor the populations, Roy regularly visits occupied ponds, Sequoia National Forest: marked and recaptured adult turtles, Kern River Ranger District: Steve removed non-native bullfrogs from Anderson (Wildlife Biologist) is the ponds, and experimented with local Forest Service contact for efforts floating basking structures. by the Kern River Preserve (Audubon California) and the Southern Sierra Tahoe National Forest: Research Center whose ongoing head American River Ranger District - start projects for pond turtles benefit Dan Teater (Fisheries Biologist) and the District through previous cost Robin Galloway of the Sequoia National Marilyn Tierney (Wildlife Biologist) Forest and her crew build floating are working with Amy Lind (USFS share agreements basking structures for Western Pond Western Divide Ranger District: Turtles. Herpetologist) monitoring pond Robin Galloway (Wildlife Biologist) turtles and developing a study plan the San Joaquin River. for hydroelectric projects. experiments with creating floating Placerville Ranger District: Susan basking structures for pond turtles. – By Kary Schlick, U.S. Forest Yasuda (Wildlife Biologist) designed Sercvice, Six Rivers National Forest Her efforts are used to monitor pond an educational display showcasing turtles as well as an educational the “Year of the Turtle” for the local Year of the Turtle Contributions opportunity with high school library that illustrates the life history students at Field Science Camps. by the US Forest Service, Pacific and ecology of turtles. Northwest Research Station Shasta-Trinity National Forest: Six Rivers National Forest: (PNW) Shasta Lake Ranger District: Lower Trinity Ranger District: 2011 State of the Turtle is a Todd Johnson (Wildlife Biologist) Andrea Collins (Fisheries Biologist) report by Dr. Deanna (Dede) Olson provides oversight of studies and is working with Herpetologist Jamie (PNW scientist) and Dr. Ross Kiester future monitoring of pond turtles on Bettaso to revisit research areas that (retired PNW scientist, currently hydroelectric projects along the Pit have marked pond turtles with the with the Turtle Conservancy) that River. intent of developing a monitoring highlights the current threats to Big Bar Ranger District: Becky plan. turtles and tortoises, and the need Rogers (Wildlife Biologist) is Orleans Ranger District: Hope for conservation, research and rehabilitating old mining claims where Woodward (Wildlife Biologist) education (report available at www. groundwater pools, by reconstructing monitors ponds and a known pond them to serve as functioning ponds turtle nesting bench to determine the for pond turtles. extent of predation. Stanislaus National Forest: Sierra National Forest: Groveland Ranger District: Steve Bass Lake and High Sierra Ranger Holdeman (Aquatic Biologist) works Districts: Phil Strand (Fisheries to rehabilitate pond turtle habitat Biologist) provides oversight of affected by the 1999 Pilot Wildfire. studies and future monitoring and Locating occupied pools along the telemetry efforts for pond turtles on river is the first step to identifying hydroelectric projects along parts of management areas of upland vegetation in order to restore nesting Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 14 yearoftheturtle.org). To aid outreach, this report has been translated into Upcoming Meetings Spanish and French, and abstracted and Events versions have appeared in the quarterly Hatching Diamondback journal Reptiles & Amphibians of the Field School, Massachusetts International Conservation Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Foundation, and the Finnish journal September 9-11, Wellfleet, Herpetomania. States and various Massachusetts. Citizen Science groups have used text from this report to aid their turtle Wild About Turtles, activities this year. MassAudubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Prime Time for Turtles is a Sanctuary, September 11, Natick, journal article by Ross Kiester and Massachusetts. Dede Olson (Herpetological Review 42(2):198-204) and provides a more Association of Fish and Wildlife technical synopsis of the status of Agencies 101st Annual Meeting, turtles, with a ‘call to action’ to work September 11-14, Omaha, together to benefit turtles worldwide. Nebraska. Several conservation strategies are Association of Zoos and outlined. Year of the Turtle Logo contest Aquariums Annual Conference, The USA Turtle Mapping Project winner Kelly Christiansen is a Data September 12-17, Atlanta, Georgia. is a national project to compile new Services (GIS) Specialist at PNW. and existing locality data for US Top 25 Endangered Turtles Flip Societas Europea Herpetologica turtles and tortoises. Dede Olson Cards: much of the text for these (SHE; European Congress of is coordinating this effort with cards was written by Amy Jo Lindsley, Herpetology) and Deutsche PNW student temporary employee an Oregon State University research Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Kimberly Barela of Oregon State assistant hired with Recovery Act Terrarienkunde (DGHT; German University (see article this issue), funds acquired by PNW. See flip Herpetological Society) Joint among others. Data Forms are cards at www.yearoftheturtle.org. Conference, September 25-29, available at www.yearoftheturtle. Twitter and Facebook Luxembourg and Trier. org, and can be submitted to contributions have been made by Wetland Restoration Workshop, [email protected]. Yasmeen Sands, PNW Writer and Year of the Turtle News articles September 25-30, Olympia, Outreach Specialist, Olympia, WA. Kentucky. go monthly to PNW’s Kathryn Media Release has been coordinated Ronnenberg for final copy editing by Sherri Richardson-Dodge, PNW The Wildlife Society 18th Annual and newsletter layout, after Editor Public Affairs Specialist, Portland, Meeting, November 11-13, David Dimitrie has completed his OR. Waikoloa, Hawaii. work on the files. Kathryn and Dede Olson have written some articles. Sea Turtle and Marine Mammal Kathryn has been reliably there at Subscribe Now! Strandings Field School, MassAudubon’s Wellfleet Bay the 11th hour to get late-breaking Don’t miss the upcoming Wildlife Sanctuary, November 11- news into the issue hours before web- editions of the Year of the 13, Wellfleet, Massachusetts. posting on the first of the month! Turtle News! If you have The Year of the Turtle Photo not already, subscribe to the International Congress for Contest Calendar is also compiled by monthly electronic newsletter Conservation Biology, Society for PNW’s Kathryn Ronnenberg, when by submitting an email with Conservation Biology, December she receives the winning photographs the subject “subscribe” to 5-9, Aukland, New Zealand. from David Dimitrie, Ross Kiester, yearoftheturtle2011@gmail. and Josh Ream (University of Alaska). com. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 15 Turtle Spotlight: Western Pond Turtle Recovery Efforts in Full Stride in Washington and California

bullfrogs and they are released back into the wild. The summer of 2011 marks the 21st year ofthe Head-Start Program. To date, more than 1500 turtles have been released into six sites that are held in public ownership and subject to habitat enhancement efforts. Reproduction has been documented at four of the six sites, and bullfrog control helps assure that some of these young reach maturity. Habitat shortages and predators are still concerns, but today’s Western Pond Turtles have a strong foothold in Washington State. - Eric Holman, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife

Hatching Western Pond Turtle, Western Pond Turtle, by Brian Hubbs. OregonZoo. Washington - The historic range of the Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata) spans the western edge of North America from the southern portion of Puget Sound to Baja Mexico. Their preferred habitats are ponds, lakes and wetlands as well as slow-moving rivers and streams. Ideal settings contain high-quality upland habitats, California - In cooperation with government partners, featuring sunny meadows for nesting and brushy forests the San Zoo is raising Southwestern Pond Turtles (a for terrestrial overwintering. of the Western or Pacific Pond Turtle) that will Unfortunately these habitats are also very attractive and perhaps be the saviors of their species. The Southwestern useful to people. A variety of impacts including wetland Pond Turtle is San Diego’s only native freshwater turtle loss, road construction, non-native plant introductions, and lives in pools within natural streams and sloughs non-native American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) which are becoming rare in coastal southern California. invasion, fire suppression, dam construction, and over- The work began in 2003 when the U.S. Geological hunting, led to severe declines. These detriments, Survey (USGS) Western Ecological Research Center combined with the species’ late sexual maturity (≥ 10 years) began monitoring the once-abundant populations within and naturally low reproductive rate, left Washington’s the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP) Western Pond Turtles in danger of extirpation from the region of San Diego. During these surveys, USGS detected state. just over 120 Southwestern Pond Turtles, including only The situation became so severe that in 1991 there were 18 females in five locations. The population and genetics only about 150 pond turtles alive in Washington and no data suggested that without active management, the young animals could be located. Subsequently, the species species could eventually be lost from the region, especially was listed as Endangered in the state of Washington and as two-thirds of the females were detected at only one a cooperative recovery effort was initiated. Through the location. Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife’s “Like many other native species in southern California, Head-Start Program, wild turtle hatchlings and eggs we needed to understand how pond turtles were coping are collected from their breeding areas and delivered to with habitat loss and invasive species pressure,” said USGS cooperating zoos. The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and ecologist Robert Fisher of the San Diego field station. the Oregon Zoo in Portland then raise the young turtles Thomas Owens, a senior keeper in the Zoo’s herpetology until they are about 10 months old. At this point the department, recently presented a paper to the international turtles are large enough to avoid predation by non-native 9th Annual Symposium on the Conservation and Biology Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 16 laevis scripta Southwestern ), Red-eared Sliders ( ), and crayfish. Pond Turtle at As a part of this study, researchers brought female turtles the San Diego from the ecological reserve to the Zoo in 2009 and 2010. Zoo. Photo by Ken Bohn, The females laid their eggs at the Zoo and then were SDZ. returned to the reserve. Ten of the eggs hatched. Now those young turtles are living in the Reptile House. The Zoo also has 12 pond turtles on exhibit in its Elephant Odyssey habitat that are not part of this study but are serving as educational ambassadors for this project and the species. Owens said he hopes the turtles in Elephant of Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles in Orlando, Florida. Odyssey will inspire guests to see that they can help The paper outlined the strides made in saving the pond conserve species in their own backyards. turtles, including the best timing for trapping females – San Diego Zoo Public Relations heavy with eggs, as well as the safest way to acquire the eggs and return the female turtles back to their environment. The California Department of Fish and Game “We have learned that after two years of removing invasive is editing the final version of a conservation plan for species we see more pond turtle activity, and just last week California’s only remaining native turtle, the Western Pond researchers saw new young pond turtles at the study site!” Turtle. The plan includes a wealth of information about Owens said. general ecology, sampling methods, detailed descriptions San Diego Zoo Global, the USGS, the San Diego of specific conservation issues in California’s diverse Association of Governments (SANDAG), and the bioregions, recommendations for statewide standards and California Department of Fish and Game kicked off the protocols, along with educational information and needs. joint project in 2009.The primary goal of the partners The plan’s intended audience is everyone – scientists, was to retrieve eggs from the turtles that could be hatched biological consultants, agency biologists, land managers, at the Zoo and then raised safely to an age where they and the general public. The plan, expected to be finalized could better fend for themselves in the wild. Among the no later than October 2011, will be available on the nonnative species that compete with pond turtles for food, Department’s website (www.dfg.ca.gov). or might eat them, are Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellis), – Betsy Bolster, California Department of Fish and Game American Bullfrogs, African Clawed Frogs (Xenopus Mapping US Turtles By Kimberly Barela, US Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station and BioResource Research Program, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR At a slow and steady pace, the US Turtle Mapping Project has spent the last eight months diligently mapping the distribution of selected species of freshwater and terrestrial turtles. Since January, I have dedicated my focus to the Western Pond Turtle and the Painted Turtle in the Pacific Northwest. For the Western Pond Turtle, mapping of all known sites is almost complete (see map, right). However, data collection is far from over, and any efforts to find and contribute to the Western Pond Turtle distribution map are still welcomed and highly appreciated. The Painted Turtle distribution map is still in progress. I am now compiling data from northwestern US states and Canadian provinces (see map below). It has been my honor to work on this project, and it Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 17 is a thrill to see the progress of the US Turtle Mapping progress in the Year of the Turtle. As always, if you are Project take form through these distribution maps. interested in working with us on this project or have With two species of turtles progressing nicely and data new observations to share, please contact Dede Olson at being compiled by my collaborators and partners around [email protected]. the country, the US Turtle Mapping Project is making Map for Chrysemys picta, Painted Turtle, 26 August 2011.

Meet the PARC Year of the Turtle Team: Terry Riley Terry Riley joined the National Terry says: “My first encounter with Park Service in Fort Collins as a herp was when I was 8 years old and PARC’s Federal Agency National living in Faringdon, England. There Coordinator in October 2010. Terry was a pond near an athletic field where is a professional wildlife biologist, everyone else was playing soccer. I and his research has focused on wasn’t much interested in sports, so techniques to maintain and enhance I explored the pond. I found a newt population viability in grassland, in that pond and thought it was one

shrubland, and wetland ecosystems. Terry Riley with young tortoise, by of the most exciting wildlife I had Most recently Terry served as Vice Brian Aucone, Denver Zoo. ever encountered. More recently, I President of Policy for the Theodore was out exploring some new created species for ESA listing. His federal Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, wetlands on my property near the and state experience includes work on where he coordinated policy South Platte River here in Colorado two national forests and as a research development for 20 conservation and came across an biologist with the Iowa DNR. Terry organizations. Prior to that, he was (). I picked him up, completed his undergraduate work Director of Conservation for the but he was very feisty and tried to at Kansas State University, holds Wildlife Management Institute. bite me. The last I saw that turtle, he MS degrees from New Mexico State He also helped develop a set of was pacing off to a nearby prairie dog University and Ohio State University, conservation strategies for the lesser town.” and a Ph.D. from Ohio State prairie-chicken and dunes sagebrush University. lizard in New Mexico, both candidate Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 18 Dr. R. Bruce Bury: Long-term Turtle Expert By Gwen W. Bury, PhD student, Department of Zoology, Oregon State University

Bruce started catching turtles species of Map Turtles. younger than I did, while growing Bruce worked in various studies not up as an amateur herpetologist in only in the United States, but also northern California. In elementary in Mexico. He participated in three school in the mid-1950s, Bruce caught expeditions to survey for Bolson a Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys Tortoises ( flavomarginatus) marmorata) just outside Sequoia in Northern Mexico, which are Park in Eureka, CA. His interest, like now the most imperiled of the their population, has stood the test of North American tortoises. While time. Bruce’s first news note, which cooperating with Mexican biologists, concerned turtle capture methods, he also took two trips to Isla Tiburón was published in 1962, and his most to survey Desert Tortoises. Turtle and

Bruce and Gwen measuring Western recent paper, published in 2011, was tortoise work can be very exciting; on Pond Turtles by the side of a stream in also about turtle capture. one trip, they put their heavily loaded northern California. After finishing his dissertation on pick-up truck on a barge to cross to My dad, Dr. R. Bruce Bury, took me Western Pond Turtles at Berkeley, the island. The boat began to take on turtle trapping for the first time when Bruce moved on to study a variety of water and almost capsized into shark- I was in middle school in Colorado. other wildlife, including chelonians. infested waters! My parents had organized a nature He was extensively involved in Desert workshop for my class, and we spent Tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) surveys hours learning about turtles of various in California and Nevada, as well kinds. Bruce showed me how to as Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea sneak up to the shore and spot turtles blandingii) in Nebraska, and Painted with binoculars, to bait traps, and Turtles in Eastern Washington. Bruce measure carapace length. My friends has also studied Berlander’s Tortoises were startled by Snapping Turtles in south Texas, as well as a survey ( serpentina) and scratched in the panhandle of Florida for Box by Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta). Turtles (Terrapene carolina). During We all had a great time and learned the Florida trip, Bruce was excited many facets of turtle knowledge. On to be able to catch his first Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys Bruce exhibits two Western Painted that day I caught a glimpse of my dad Turtles from Medical Lake, Washington as Bruce Bury, turtle expert. temminckii), as well as to see two State.

Sharing his knowledge is important to Bruce: he has written many Sometimes turtle measuring takes a publications and books, and he has village. (Large crew taught at workshops. He has helped measuring Western to organize various turtle efforts, Pond Turtles in California). including the Powdermill Turtle Ecology Group and many symposia and sessions at scientific meetings. In addition, he has mentored many students and technicians through the years. A large group of them usually joins us for the annual revisit to the site of Bruce’s dissertation research. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 19 Because of the number of marked turtles in the population, this site has become a favorite for continuing Ask the Experts! Bruce’s long-term studies of Western Do you have questions about Pond Turtles. turtle biology or turtle conservation Bruce Bury has worked on turtles issues, but you can’t quite seem for over 50 years and continues to to find the answers? Submit be passionate about studying them. your turtle questions via email Though he has also worked on many (yearoftheturtle2011@gmail. other organisms, turtle studies are com) to our panel of experts, and frequently a weekend field trip with we will select questions to answer the or a day outing to show in our upcoming newsletter students how to trap turtles. I was editions. Please include your lucky enough to be one of those name and location in your email students and am now looking forward message. to collaborating with Bruce on many future projects on chelonians. Bruce counting a Western Pond Turtle age rings and reading the marked scutes (to right is James Bettaso, USFWS).

PARC Regional Working Group Spotlight: Southwest PARC Hosts Annual Meeting in Tucson, Arizona The 2011 SWPARC Annual Meeting was held August a nongame program” by Audrey K. Owens and Cristina 10–13 at the University Park Marriot in Tucson, Arizona Jones; and “Mexican tortoise project: status of a neglected and featured—among other herpetofauna topics—a population” from Taylor Edwards, Mercy Vaughn, Philip collection of turtle research and conservation related R. Rosen, Alice E. Karl, Robert Murphy, Kristin H. talks, poster presentations, and discussions. A highlight Berry, Ma. Cristina Meléndez Torres, Martín Francisco of the meeting was a special session dedicated to turtle Villa Andrade, and Fausto Méndez De la Cruz. Sea turtles conservation: “Year of the Turtle, Southwest Style.” were certainly not excluded in these efforts at the Annual Talks throughout the meeting included a Year of the Meeting, as Jeffrey Seminoff presented on the “Biology Turtle update from Brian Aucone, Priya Nanjappa, and conservation of sea turtles of the Gulf of California.” and Terry Riley, as well as a talk Meanwhile, poster presentations entitled “A quantitative analysis included an examination by of the state of the knowledge of Jennifer Germano, Kimberly the turtles of the United States Field, Kelly Wallace, Lindsay and Canada: how much do we Perry, Paula Kahn, and Ron really know” by Jeffrey Lovich and Swaisgood of “Do differences in J.R. Ennen. This was followed by release area habitat features affect Roy Averill-Murray’s presentation post-translocation movement? on the “New directions in the A case study on Desert Tortoises recovery of the Mojave (Agassiz’s) ;” (Gopherus agassizii).” “Species assemblage and community structuring among For more information on the 2011Annual Meeting, ectothermic aquatic with an emphasis on including a full look at the abstracts of presented talks turtles” from J. Daren Riedle, Richard T. Kazmaeir, and posters, visit www.swparc.org/meetings.html, and and Wes B. Littrell; “Ornate Box Turtle Watch: using be sure to visit www.swparc.org/index.html for all the citizen science to collect data and increase awareness of news and events related to SWPARC efforts. Year of the Turtle News No. 9, September 2011, p. 20 group by vomiting a recently-eaten Turtle Talk! bullfrog. Although the bullfrog did On August 20, the Georgia not fare well, all other animals were Department of Natural returned safely to Clubhouse Lake. Resources,Wildlife Resources If you have been involved with a Division (www.georgiawildlife. “Turtle Talk” and would like to share com) hosted “Turtle Talk,” a free information on it as part of the Year of public program to celebrate PARC’s the Turtle, we would like to highlight Year of the Turtle. With two it in one of the remaining Year of classrooms next to an eight-acre lake, the Turtle News issues! Please send a the Discovery Area at DNR’s Charlie brief write-up and several photos (if Elliott Wildlife Center in Mansfield, available) to yearoftheturtle2011@ GA was the perfect setting for this gmail.com, and we will work to Herpetologist John Jensen sets a turtle event. State herpetologist John trap in Clubhouse Lake at Charlie include your efforts in an upcoming Jensen and environmental outreach Elliott Wildlife Center. Photo by Linda issue. coordinator Linda May taught 30 May. attendees all about Georgia’s 27 turtle lure. Of course, human hands were species—the various habitats they kept away from turtle mouths! The live in, physical traits that help them group’s excitement escalated as we survive, threats they face, and how the headed outside and discovered 20+ GA DNR is working hard to protect turtles in the live traps in Clubhouse rare species and keep common species Lake, traps that John Jensen set just common. the afternoon before. Although the Participants especially enjoyed plethora of Yellow-bellied Sliders, seeing and touching live captive Mud Turtles and Musk Turtles was turtles in the classroom, including satisfying enough, a fun bonus capture Jensen inspects a turtle trap full of Mud and Musk Turtles, Gopher was a Midland Watersnake (Nerodia Yellow-bellied Sliders (Trachemys Tortoises, and an Alligator Snapping scripta scripta) as Turtle Talk sipedon pleuralis) that entertained the participants look on. Photo by Linda Turtle with its worm-like lingual May.

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