Bog Turtles Are Small, Semi-Aquatic Turtles Typically Reaching a Maximum Shell Length of Around Four Inches at Bog Turtles Adulthood

Description, life history Bog turtles are small, semi-aquatic turtles typically reaching a maximum shell length of around four inches at Bog Turtles adulthood. Their shells are usually ma- hogany or black. A bog turtle’s most identifiable characteristic is the promi- Slipping Away nent yellow or orange splotch on each side of the head behind the eye. A lack by Andrew L. Shiels of yellow or light spots on the carapace Nongame and Endangered Species Unit (upper shell) helps to distinguish this species from the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata), which may also be found in- The bog turtle’s (Clemmys muhlenbergii) Typically, the turtle is dropped off at habiting wetlands where bog turtles story is filled with irony and contradic- a pet store or nature center with little or live. Bog turtles are long-lived. They tions. It is Pennsylvania’s smallest no information pertaining to where it reach reproductive age between five and turtle. Even though it does not require was picked up. In many cases, these eight years and may live 20 to 30 years, large areas of habitat to survive, its “saved” turtles cannot be released back often spending their entire lives in the populations have suffered from more into the wild because their wetland of wetlands where they were born. problems associated with habitat loss origin is unknown. Disease and genetic Active during the warmer months, than any other turtle in the Common- issues often preclude releasing these they typically emerge from overwinter- wealth. Bog turtles are cute, petite, and individuals in areas other than their ing during April. Basking, eating, and very attractive, which makes them an native wetland. Bog turtles are listed mating occupies the months of April easy animal for people to like and want both as a Pennsylvania endangered spe- through June. Egg-laying usually oc- to protect. However, those same at- cies and threatened under the federal curs in June and July with the young tributes also make this species very de- Endangered Species Act, and therefore hatching during late August and early sirable in the black market pet trade. It they are protected by special regula- September. Bog turtles construct nests lives in wetlands primarily in the south- tions. Consequently, some land devel- in sphagnum or on tussock sedges eastern counties of Pennsylvania. Un- opers are concerned that their proposed where the eggs can be deposited above fortunately, those areas also have the projects may be affected by its presence. the water level of the wetland. One to highest human population densities in Meanwhile, others see the bog turtle six eggs are deposited and left to incu- the Commonwealth. as a barometer for the quality and bate unattended for approximately six Bog turtles prefer to live in spring health of wetlands and watersheds in to eight weeks. The eggs and young are seeps and open, marshy meadows, their communities. This little turtle, preyed on by mice, raccoons, skunks, which are usually found in flat or gently which exemplifies so many different foxes, and birds. In Pennsylvania, adult rolling landscapes of the valleys of things to so many different people, re- and juvenile bog turtles usually enter southeastern Pennsylvania. Yet, these mains one of the most endangered and the mud to overwinter during late Sep- same areas are also prime locations in controversial species in the Common- tember and October. Thus, for at least which to build homes and housing de- wealth today. velopments to support the urban and suburban sprawl that centers around the cities of eastern Pennsylvania. Some well-meaning people want to protect this species so much that they actually unknowingly endanger the turtles by removing them from the wild when they are seen crossing roads.

The bog turtle exemplifies so many different things to so many different people. It remains one of the most endangered and controversial species in the Commonwealth today.

photos-Gianluca Rocco

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 23 half of the year, and for that matter half such as hot and cold temperatures. sional.” When open, marshy meadows of their lives, bog turtles exist in a dor- Groundwater springs, seeps, and subsur- and fields evolve into a forest, they first mant state buried in the mud. face flows provide areas where the turtles become inhabited by large shrubs and can overwinter without the threat of small trees. As the trees mature, sun- Range freezing to death. The wetland plants light is intercepted and filtered, and the Bog turtles are native to the eastern most often found in these areas include composition of plants at the ground United States ranging from Georgia to cattails, rushes, jewelweed, skunk cab- level and lower canopy changes. Late the lower New England states. They bage, sedges (particularly tussock sedge), successional habitat consists of exten- have a discontinuous distribution with sphagnum, and various native grasses. sive canopy and mature trees. Because a 250-mile separation between distinct Common trees and shrubs include red bog turtles rely on early and mid-suc- northern and southern populations. maple, alder, willows, and poison sumac. cessional habitats, events that cause Pennsylvania represents the keystone of An open canopy that allows abundant those areas to remain open are neces- the northern population, which extends sunlight to reach ground level is an es- sary for their survival. Succession is from Maryland and Delaware through sential component of bog turtle habitat. accelerated by runoff of nutrients and Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Bog turtles spend significant periods of erosion of soils into wetlands. Natural Connecticut, and Massachusetts. In their lives basking in the sun. As in all and human-induced succession have Pennsylvania, bog turtles occur in reptiles, proper thermoregulation in led to the elimination of bog turtles counties of the Commonwealth’s south- bog turtles is vital to the control of from areas where they historically oc- eastern corner. Of course, bog turtles metabolic processes. In addition, incu- curred. are neither randomly nor abundantly bating eggs require appropriate levels of distributed throughout their range. sunlight, warmth, and humidity that are Threats to survival They are habitat specialists that require usually lacking in shaded areas. Illegal Activity. Bog turtles have been very specific environmental conditions Prime bog turtle habitat is often protected as a Pennsylvania endangered to ensure their survival. described as “early succes- species by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission since 1974. In No- Habitat vember 1997, the U.S. Fish and Wild- The preferred habitat for bog turtles life Service added bog turtles to its includes open wet meadows, shallow threatened list. Under state and fed- water marshes, spring seeps, flood eral regulations, it is unlawful to plain wetlands, bogs, and fens. Bog sell, trade, barter, possess, turtles live in wetlands that offer a import, export, catch, mosaic of wet and dry areas, thus take, or kill bog turtles. providing a variety of micro-climatic However, in Pennsylvania and conditions that aid in thermoregulation throughout the bog turtle’s range, and egg incubation. Deep, soft, mucky poaching has occurred to supply soils allow bog turtles to avoid preda- the black market pet trade. Be- tors and to escape climatic extremes cause of their small size, attrac- Walke Rocco; illustration-Ted photo-Gianluca

24 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime tive qualities and overall rarity, these such as foxes and raccoons adapt well turtles are prized by both domestic and to the broken habitat and areas close to overseas collectors. Be- houses, which protect them from pur- cause they are slow to ma- suit by hunters and trappers. Habitat ture, have low reproductive disturbance in or along wet- rates, and are continually de- land margins also promotes clining because of habitat loss and plant species that thrive in alteration, the remaining bog newly disturbed habitats. turtle populations cannot usually Purple loosestrife and com- withstand the removal of even a turtle’s thermoregulation. Invasive mon reed, mentioned earlier, can rapidly few individuals. Fish and Boat Com- plants that alter the natural composi- colonize disturbed areas, first gaining a mission Waterways Conservation Offic- tion and diversity of vegetation in the foothold, and then spreading into the ers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wetland can quickly reduce a wetland’s interior of the wetland. Increased road agents are constantly on alert for these suitability for bog turtles. traffic, whether on new or existing roads, threats. Habitat fragmentation. Habitat frag- leads to increased possibilities of mortal- Before becoming federally listed as mentation, for a variety of reasons, ity for turtles that attempt to cross roads. threatened, bog turtles illegally taken leads to the demise of bog turtles. Most For the most part, bog turtle sites are from states where they were protected bog turtle populations were at one time isolated from one another. Researchers (which includes all states in their natu- connected by waterways and wetland are studying the effects of such isolation ral range) were easily “laundered” complexes. This allowed the individu- in an effort to determine how geographic through states outside of their native als in adjoining populations to mingle separation may affect the genetics of range. Thus, bog turtles were listed for and maintain the genetic fitness of the those populations. sale in catalogs from reptile dealers in species. If local conditions were unsuit- Saving the bog turtle distant states such as Florida and Cali- able, the turtles could migrate to nearby fornia where they don’t occur naturally. areas in the watershed. Natural succes- Work has been underway for some Obviously, these turtles were illegally sion, which occurred at a slower rate time by state, federal, and local officials procured from the wild in states where than human-induced succession, to identify and protect bog turtles and they were protected. Federal protection would, over time, cause populations to their habitats. Cooperation with non- under the Endangered Species Act of move in search of new areas. However, governmental organizations such as The 1973 eliminates such loopholes. road construction, draining and filling Nature Conservancy, various county and Invasive plants. Nonnative plants of wetlands, pollution, and poor land- local conservancies, university research- have caused the quality of some bog use practices have caused historic habi- ers, herpetological specialists, and many turtle sites to decline. Two of the most tats to shrink, be cutoff from one interested Pennsylvania residents has notorious plants are purple loosestrife another, or be eliminated altogether. helped to reveal locations where they and common reed. Both nonnative spe- These modern changes occur at rates occur, facilitate population studies, and cies have colonized many wetland areas faster than the rates at which turtles share vital information. in the eastern U.S. These species tend can respond to the alteration. Also, Light to moderate grazing of cattle to produce virtual monocultures and there usually isn’t anywhere else to has been shown in some cases to retard out-compete native wetland plants that move to. succession in bog turtle wetlands. In the may have provided food or cover for the Fragmentation of habitat causes the past, beaver dams, which backed up bog turtle and other wetland-dependent amount of edge to increase in propor- streams and flooded lowlands, causing species. The common reed grows in tion to the interior. Increased the trees to die, created open canopies very thick clumps. These clumps are amounts of edge are preferred by many and suitable areas for bog turtles, par- impenetrable, and they restrict bog animals that prey on bog turtle eggs, ticularly after the beavers moved on to turtle movements. They can also grow young, and adults. The spread of another site and the dam collapsed. To- to heights of eight to 10 feet, thereby southeastern Pennsylvania’s suburbia day, The Nature Conservancy uses tech- shading desirable plant species. into bog turtle habitat also tends to niques such as controlled burning of Bog turtles rely on certain native elevate the populations of preda- unwanted vegetation, girdling of trees to plants for food either in the form of tors. These predators kill them, thus opening the canopy, and young shoots or the seeds they produce. the use of selected herbicides to control Also, some plant species such as tus- the vegetation in bog turtle habitats that sock sedges provide natural nesting the Conservancy manages. sites that are elevated above the water Waterways Conservation Officers and level in the wetland. This allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents eggs to be protected from have devoted considerable time and inundation during water effort to curb poaching and illegal illustration-Ted Walke level fluctuations in the sales of bog turtles. Funding has wetland. The large, broad been provided through the U.S. Fish and leaves of skunk cabbage provide Wildlife Service for field work and to readily accessible areas of shade to produce informational materials. provide overhead protection from Pennsylvania’s Wild Resource Conser- predators or to assist in the vation Fund has provided funding for

Fishing & Boating Memories Last A Lifetime Pennsylvania Angler & Boater 25 Bog Turtles ment increasingly threaten its habitat, Slipping Away much work will need to be done to keep this species present in Pennsylvania. Public involvement, in the form of par- field surveys, and the production of ticipation, cooperation and funding, “Living on the Edge,” an educational must support any future protection and video about bog turtles in Pennsylvania. enhancement activities pertaining to The Fish and Boat Commission, this small, attractive turtle. However, through the Nongame and Endangered bog turtles, like many habitat special- Species Unit, reviews hundreds of pro- ists, are often barometers of the quality posed development projects each year. of wildlife habitats in an ever-changing, The project areas are screened for the increasingly altered environment. presence of bog turtles using the Penn- Meeting the challenges of protecting, sylvania Natural Diversity Inventory conserving, and enhancing bog turtle (PNDI) database and file information. populations has not been and probably This database is a cooperative effort will not be easy. If we’re not careful, among the Department of Conserva- this animal could slip away from tion and Natural Resources, The Nature Pennsylvania’s natural heritage as easily Conservancy, and Western Pennsylvania as it slips into the soft mud of the wet- Conservancy along with many research- lands it calls home. ers. Potential conflicts are resolved through negotiations with project ap- A bog turtle’s age can be estimated by plicants. Where field surveys are re- counting the annular rings on a plastral Agency Contacts, quired, the Commission in cooperation (belly) scute. with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Additional Resources provides technical guidance regarding populations with the realization that ● PA Fish and Boat Commission, the proper survey methods to ensure protecting the habitat and water qual- Nongame and Endangered the quality of biological investigations. ity where bog turtles live leads to direct Species Unit, 450 Robinson Lane, The Commission maintains a confiden- benefits for the human residents in the Bellefonte, PA 16823-9620. tial database of known historic and cur- watershed. Residents should ensure ● rent bog turtle sightings. that development proposals are re- PA Fish & Boat Commission, The Commission and U.S. Fish and viewed with respect to bog turtle issues. P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA Wildlife Service have conducted joint Contact a local or regional conservancy 17106-7000. Contact the Com- training sessions with federal, state, and or land preservation group to offer sup- mission for a list of publications county conservation professionals to port for bog turtle protection efforts. including the Commission’s educate them in the recognition of bog Be vigilant in reporting suspicious ac- “Turtles of Pennsylvania” wall turtle habitat and the biology of the tivities of persons in southeastern chart and the books Pennsylvania species. These persons routinely handle Pennsylvania wetlands who appear to Amphibians & Reptiles and various land-use permitting activities at be searching for turtles. Similarly, if Endangered and Threatened many levels and are valuable assets in bog turtles are seen offered for sale, Species of Pennsylvania. the protection of important habitats. contact the local or regional law en- ●US Fish and Wildlife Service, Finally, when the situation warrants, forcement office of the Commission PA Field Office, 315 South Allen Commission staff have testified in immediately. If a bog turtle is sighted St., Suite 322, State College, PA court proceedings to ensure that this crossing a road, safely pick it up and 16801. species and its habitat are protected. carry it off the road in the same direc- ●PA Department of Environmen- Even though the Commission and U.S. tion that it was moving. Moving them tal Protection, Bureau of Dams, Fish and Wildlife Service have legal re- back to the side of the road they just Waterways and Wetlands, 6th sponsibility for bog turtles, many other came from will only cause them to at- Floor, Rachel Carson State individuals and groups are also inter- tempt to cross the road again. Office Building, P.O. Box 8554, ested in its well-being and are active in Do not possess or remove bog turtles Harrisburg, PA 17105-8554. efforts to protect them. from the wild. Should you observe one, ● contact the Fish & Boat Commission Wild Resource Conservation What can you do? Nongame and Endangered Species Unit Fund, P.O. Box 8764, Harris- After considering all of this informa- and report the finding. If it is con- burg, PA 17105-8764. Available tion, you may be wondering what the firmed, the sighting will increase our from the Wild Resource Conser- average person can do. Involvement in knowledge of the turtle’s distribution. vation Fund: “Turtles of land use and planning decisions at the In recent years, the Commission has Pennsylvania” poster (different local level of boro, township, or county documented many new locations from the PA Fish & Boat can have tremendous effects on the through phone calls or letters from Commision’s poster), “Living on proper use and protection of wetlands alert Pennsylvanians. the Edge: Bog Turtles” video, and bog turtle habitat. Many commu- The bog turtle is at a threshold in its bog turtle patch. nities have embraced their bog turtle history. As pressures from develop- Shiels photo-Andy

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