A POPULATION OF BOG TURTLES IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA:
Habitat Preferences, Capture Method Efficacy, Conservation Initiatives, and Site Enhancement
by
Ann Berry Somers Department of Biology University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina
Submitted to Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetlands Institute
Abridged Version May 2000 A POPULATION OF BOG TURTLES IN THE PIEDMONT OF NORTH CAROLINA:
Habitat Preferences, Capture Method Efficacy, Conservation Initiatives, and Site Enhancement
by
Ann Berry Somers Department of Biology University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina
Submitted to Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetlands Institute
Abridged Version May 2000 In rd r t pr t t th r r h bj t , n t v nf r t n h b n tt d. Table of Contents
Table of Contents ...... ii List of Tables ...... iv List of Figures ...... List of Appendices ...... vi Preface ...... vii Acknowledgements ...... ix 1. Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Background and Purpose ...... 1 1.2 The Site ...... 6 1.2.1 Site Description ...... 6 1.2.2 Photographic History of Site ...... 7 1.2.3 Reasons for Choice ...... 8
2. Conservation Initiatives and Site Enhancement ...... 10 2.1 Landowner Interactions ...... 10 2.1.1 Education ...... 10 2.1.2 Landowner Involvement ...... 10 2.1.3 Lease Agreement ...... 10 2.2 Seasonal Exclusion of Cattle ...... 12 2.3 Headstarting ...... 12 2.4 DNA Collection and Analysis ...... 14 2.5 Workshops and Meetings ...... 14
3. Population Assessment ...... 17 3.1 Introduction ...... 17 3.2 Methods ...... 18 3.2.1 Field Methods ...... 18 3.2.2 Radio-tracking ...... 20 3.2.3 Headstarting ...... 21 3.3 Results ...... 21 3.4 Conclusions and Discussion ...... 24 3.4.1 Population Size Increase ...... 24 3.4.2 Demographic Concerns ...... 26 3.4.3 Inbreeding Concerns ...... 27 3.4.4 Size Concerns ...... 28 3.5 Are Small, Isolated Populations Worth Saving? ...... 29 3.6 On Considering Augmentation ...... 31 3.6.1 Rationale ...... 31 3.6.2 Halfway Technology? ...... 35 3.6.3 Experimental Short-distance Translocation ...... 36 b t t r f r n ...... 37 1 Intr d t n ...... 37 M th d ...... 37 4.2. ld M th d ...... 37 4.2.2 n E t t n ...... 3 3 lt ...... 3 4. . t h r f r n ...... 3 4. .2 b t t r f r n ...... 4. . n S z ...... 4. .4 U f I pr v d Ar ...... 4. . b t t Ch n lt f C ttl Ex l n ...... 5 C n l n nd n ......
5 C pt r M th d Eff ...... 5 1 Intr d t n ...... 5 M th d ...... 5 .2. C pt r hn ...... 5 5 3 r pp n v l S r h ...... 51 . . St t t l M th d ...... 5 . .2 lt ...... 5 5 f Y r ...... 5 .4. St t t l M th d ...... 5 .4.2 lt ...... 5 5 p l t n S z nd r pp n S ...... 55 . . St t t l M th d ...... . .2 lt ...... 57 5 l bl t t n f S ll p l t n ...... 57 .6. St t t l M th d ...... 59 .6.2 lt ...... 59 5 7 C n l n nd n ...... 59
nd t n ...... 1 r h S t "A" ...... t r n n th O rr n f rtl In t nt l S t ......
7 rth r St d l nn d ...... 3
t r t r C t d ...... App nd x I — A r l M p f r h S t "A" ...... 7 App nd x II — nd n r t ...... 7 App nd x III — S pl A r nt ...... App nd x I — rtl t n t r h S t "A" 1993 — 199 ...... 9 App nd x — r h S t "A" l nt Sp t ...... 1 1 t f bl
1 t f C ttl Ex l n 199 - 199 ...... 1
r f l f rtl t r h S t "A" n 199 ......
3 p l t n S z nd A Str t r f rtl C pt r d t r h S t A n 1993 nd 199 ...... 5
t h r f r n f rtl t r h S t "A" ...... 3
5 t h r f r n f d - l t r d rtl ...... 39
b t t r f r n f rtl n r h S t "A" 1993 — 199 ......
7 b t t r f r n f rtl C p r d W th All Oth r rtl ......
x d K rn l n t n E t t f rtl t r h S t "A" ...... t f r
1 C p t n f th rtl n th E t rn Un t d St t ......
( h r O tt d — C nt t th r f r f rth r nf r t n ...... 5
3 M d f r h S t "A" ...... 9
nd n r nd rtl ...... 11
5 nd n r lp n ld C ttl Ex l n n ...... 11
G n r l t r f t t n n Op n t h nd v t Ex l n n ...... 13
7 M n nt W r h p M 11 1995 ...... 1
CS Off l r r h S t "A" M 1995 ...... 1
9 ( h r O tt d — C nt t th r f r f rth r nf r t n ...... 19
1 b t t r f r n f rtl t r h S t "A" ...... 1
11 r nt f b t t U f rtl C p r d th All Oth r rtl ...... 3
1 l S r h r Inv t d nd b r f rtl C pt r d ...... 53
13 r p r Inv t d v rtl r pp d t r h S t "A" 1993-199 ..... 5
1 r p Eff rt r rtl C pt r In C p r n S t "C" ( = + nd r h S t "A" ( 1 ...... 5 t f App nd
I An l h t r ph f r h S t "A" S t 19 1951 1955 19 1977 ... 7
II nd n r t ...... 7
I S pl A r nt......
I t n f rtl t r h S t "A" 1993-199 ...... 9
l nt Sp t f r r h S t "A" ...... 1 1 r f
In 1993 b t rtl Clemmys muhlenbergii (S h pff r f nd
n t d n th p d nt f rth C r l n Alth h th t
pp r d d r d d nd r z n pr r h v th r d t b
n h r n n h b t t t pp rt h lth p p l t n f b t rtl
Int r t r n th t nd n b t rtl h b t t r t r t n ff rt b n d d nd t n t t th pr j t r pr v d d b th
rtn r f r W ldl f pr r f th US h nd W ldl f S rv
( US WS A r v f r p rf r d n th th t r v l d v r l ttl d t v l bl n r t r n nh n n r n n h t t
p t f d l n f r n nt f th r r tl nd th
d ll f th l nd n r nth f l l n rv t n t nd th d d t d b r f r j t rtl — th p f th r n l pr j t
xp nd d h pr j t n f n nd t n b r r h th t ll
lt t l l d t th d v l p nt f n nt d l n f r h
t A n b r f t t f d r l nd pr v t n r t rt n t pr t r t r t n th r nt n d f r h nf r t n v r pp r nt
St d th t h v b n n r t d fr th pr j t ddr h nt r t r t r t n h dr l d v t t n n nt th r l f r z n h rb v r n h b t t n nt nd th r n rn
An th r t r th f th pr j t h b n p r t v r nt
d t pr rv n th v l bl tl nd A M r nd f
Und r t nd n h b n d v l p d t f r l z th p rtn r h p b t n the following: NC Chapter Soil and Water Conservation Society, Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Science Institute and
Watershed Science Institute, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Sierra Club,
The Nature Conservancy, NC Natural Heritage Program, Piedmont Land
Conservancy, Foothills Nature Science Society, Project Bog Turtle, and others. " p t pr bl [ n rv n p ] th r pp r t b t r h h v b n l n rd ff r And f r th t p rt th h v b n th r f xtr rd n r l d d t d nd v d l n t l n f b r r t I p t th t th t rtl r ll b f ht nd n nd l t b nd v d l `t rtl n nd t rtl n h r n d v n n fr th h l n n d t v th r p " - hn hl r (1997 I ld l t n l d th t n f th f ll n extraordinarily dedicated individuals: The members of Project Bog Turtle: nn r n; h rp; ff n ; d ; Chr M Gr th; r M rd ; S r; v d S r; Gr n nd th r
Data analysis: nn f r M n f ld- n h p rt nt f l Un v r t f rth C r l n t Gr n b r
Editorial assistant: El z b th W lt n U CG
Plant species list: K nn th A r dl h
Student assistants: El z b th W lt n U CG In r d r nz n h l S h l f th Env r n nt Un v r t K f G v U CG hn U CG
Technical assistance and field assistance were provided by: Ev rh rt; r nt S h l r; S h l r; M r nd l b; r nn n l b; An l p; nn f r M n f ld- n ; El z b th W lt n; hn S l I; M ; r ll; M tth l r; r b; Gr G n ; n v ; n S th; ff W ll ; Ch rl l ; rr l n; Chr M Gr th; n t r n; r nn r M; r r C rr ll M; K n r dl ; n h l ; W rn r; rn r n; Al n nt n; Abr h h nd G r S r
Funding and other support for the project were provided by: t r l r C n rv t n S rv ; US h nd W ldl f S rv ; th ll t r S n S t ; rth C r l n W ldl f d r t n; h r C p n nd t n; S l nd W t r S t f rth C r l n ; r j t rtl ; rth C r l n rp t l l S t ; d v ll t r n r p t l; th ll t r S n S t ; S r Sh t M t l; S rr Cl b f rth C r l n ; n rr ; Ann nd G r S r ; l t r nd v l p nt In
rth C r l n W ldl f r C n pr v d d p r t 1. Introduction
1.1 Background and Purpose
Many scientists now recognize the importance of landscape-level management in protecting ecosystems and communities of organisms (National Research Council 1992).
Among the rarest and most endangered of ecosystems in the southeast are spring-fed wetlands of the mountains and piedmont. Such areas provide habitat for approximately 90 species of plants and animals that are considered rare, threatened or endangered (Murdock
1994). Many of these sites have been drained or otherwise altered by human activity. Due to the loss of wetlands over the years, only about 500 acres of mountain bog habitat remain
(A. Weakly in Herman and Tryon 1997).
A rare element known to occur in some of these sites is the bog turtle, Clemmys muhlenbergii (Schoepff). Bog turtles are small, secretive turtles that inhabit spring-fed wetlands within a limited range in the eastern U.S. The turtles occur in disjunct patches of habitat in 12 states from New England to northeastern Georgia (Figure 1). A four hundred km (250-mile) gap separates the turtles into distinct northern and southern geographic regions (Herman 1994). The northern population occurs from New York and
Massachusetts south to Maryland. The southern population ranges from southwest Virginia to northern Georgia. Bog turtles are threatened with extinction throughout their range and are protected in all 12 states of their occurrence.
In order for the US Fish and Wildlife Service to list a species as Threatened or
Endangered, sufficient data must be available to justify the listing. Presently, the Service nl h ff nt t t nd thr t d t t pp rt th l t n f th n rth rn p p l t n
h n rth rn p p l t n f d r ll l t d hr t n d n 1997 nd n r v pr t t n nd r th End n r d Sp A t (US WS 1997 h th rn p p l t n l t d "thr t n d d t l r t f pp r n " rtl fr th rn p p l t n
l l r bl t rtl fr n rth rn p p l t n th t nf r nt p r nn l nn t b
xp t d t d t n h b t n th h " l r t f pp r n " l t n d n d t
n z nf r nt pr bl nd h lp n rv th n rth rn p p l t n (US WS 1997
St t rv r n nd r n th th tt pt n t th n b r nd r n
f xt nt l n
t rtl r p v ln r bl t xt n t n h r l t t r n h v l r t f p p l t n n r nd r r p l z d h b t t In dd t n th r p p l t n
z r ll ll nd th r b l t t d p r ff t v l h b n r tl r d d d t h b t t l nd r d t n nd fr nt t n f h b t t
An nt r t n p t f th p th t t ft n l t d n r lt r l tt n
n nn tl nd f ttl nd h r p t r S h r h v t b n l d d
n n t t p n n t d r d b (K v t 197 ; r n nd
r n 1997 M n b l t r n l n d t th n f nd n r d nd thr t n d p b n n p t bl th r lt r h n t n r l tr f r th b t rtl
Alth h dr n n f r r lt r l p rp nd v r t n p t r h v d r d d n
t b t rtl n t ll b f nd n t p t r rtl d n t r ft n h h r n
r z d p t r th n n l r n n- r z d r n t r l r th n p r b- n p
( r n nd r n 1997 v r th r r r l nt h Gr l l ( l grayi), b r (Arethusa bulbosa), nd p p n (Helonias bullata) f nd n n n-
r z d r l htl r z d tl nd h v lr d b n l t fr n t n f r
r d t n f t bj t d t r z n n r lt fr h f tr ff nd x n tr nt np t fr f l t r h f t th t n l n f t rtl r f nd n f r
t t n t th n t n th t th r r l b n f t t d th r z n S nt t
n d r n th tt r t th t r z n ttl nd h r r t rd th r th f d v t t n nd pr v nt n p l r ( r n nd r n 1997; hl nn t l 1997;
r n 1999
S n n v bl b t rtl l n r f nd n p t r tt n pr t t n b t rtl fr xt n t n n d v l p n t n t n f r th p p l t n n b t b l z d r n r d h l n -r n l f th pr j t t n r th n b r f b t rtl n d r d d d b n f r th n t v ttl
p r t n h t hn b n t t d r pl nd th t r l h p nd r d l
v l bl h nt nt t th r b l n d t n p p l t n f b t rtl n t h r
nh n nt ff rt r nd r n rd r t pr v d d n n th r t r t n nd
n nt f l r t nl r f rr d t b nd d b C n rr nt
t d t th t n l d h dr l l nt nd d v t t n n nt
t d h pr j t h dr l t pl n t n p l t th fl f t r n n t n f th
tl nd n h p f ff tt n th d d b n x t n dr n d t h h h ld
n r th z f th h b t t pr f rr d b th t rtl W r pr ntl n t r n th
t r l v l t t bl h b l n d t f r pr - nd p t-tr t nt n l n rd r t d t r n f th ff rt r f l
.2 h S t
1.2.1 Site Description
h t d nd rt n n pr v t l n d f l f r n n Upp r d nt
n t n rth C r l n t th b f th l d rp nt ppr x t l 57
(15 f t b v l v l (S t 3 r h pr r r lt r l f th f r b f pr d t n h l nd h b n n th n r h p f th f l f r v r 1 r nd pr ntl th r r f v b r f thr n r t n l v n th r E rn n n r t d fr th f r ppl nt th f l n Alth h n pr p rt f fr f t r d v l p nt th r n d n t th t f ll n th f r r n p rt n f th pr p rt f r n r n
h r r thr v r ll nd d t n t tl nd p t h n th f r nt n d th n
d t r f 5 ( r 3 h thr p t h b rd r bbl nd r v l d n t d
tr ( p nd C n n l f t n n 199 th r th r b t 1 h t r n z (1 5 h
1 h b n t r d "th p n p t h " It h d p ft d nd r v
n f nt nl ht d t th l -l v l v t t n nd p n n p nd t n It 5 h t r ( 35 r n z nd h r f t ld r (Alnus serrulata) rr nd d b
n tl nd h rb v t t n f Carex pp Scirpus pp Juncus p t
(App nd x v b ttl pr r t r t n f th x l n f n r lt d n d n d d p th thr h ld r n th l r nd f th p t h h p n p t h n d r d th r r b t t l l r bl pr f rr d h b t t ( nn pr n -f d tl nd
th ft d nd l -l v l d nd r nd t f th t rtl pt r h v b n p t h ( 3 p rt l rl dr t h r t b r v r b th l t 197
h ld r l nd n r n n h r l t xt r ll tr n t dr n th h f ld p t h th h r h b nd d d rl r Sh r nt th tr nd ff rt h nd h r h b nd p t f rth t d t th d t h th h r -dr n p n r th ph t r ph
p l t th t th tt pt d t dr n th r t n th l t 195 t d 19
1.2.3 Reasons for Choice
h t h v r l h r t r t th t t ttr t v f r p p l t n t d nd
t nh n nt pr j t
➢ Landowner stability: h f r h b n h ld n th f l f r r th n 1 r h pr nt l nd n r n h d-th rt th h ldr n th t n n l nt r t d n th f r th t rtl nd th pr j t;
➢ Landowner interest: All f v f l b r l v n n th f r (thr n r t n r pp rt v f th pr j t nd r nt r t d n h lp n ;
➢ Small size: S t nh n nt ff rt h ld h v d t t bl r lt ;
➢ Three distinct wetland patches n l pr x t th t nt n n l t bl h b t t f r b t rtl ;
Wetlands are seemingly suitable in size, vegetation and hydrology t pp rt n n r n n b r f b t rtl
2. C n rv t n In t t v nd S t Enh n nt
2. nd n r Int r t n
2. . Ed t n
n f th l nd n r h d v r n r h rd f b t rtl nt l n tr pp d
n th r f r n 1993 ( r p rt f th C nt t r l Ar Inv nt r ( nd ll t
1995 S b ntl I pr v d d th th r tt n t r l n th f r f nd n r
t (App nd x II h h r p l d b r j t rtl ( nd In r d
r nz n r nt rn l b r r l nv t d t l l t l th t r b n
v n p rt f th nv nt r h h th tt nd d n v r l n
2. .2 nd n r Inv lv nt n t C ll t n nd b t t Enh n nt
h l nd n r n t nl r nt d t th t th b t v l nv lv d
n th pr j t All b r f th thr n r t n l v n n th f r p rt p t d n d ff r nt n l d n h lp n th f n n tr t n n t r n t r d pth n ll
h n tr p nd h lp n th v l rv ( r 5
2. . A r nt
nd pr v d d b th h nd W ldl f S rv d t p bl f r r j t
rtl ( t l d b fr l nd n r b t n 1997 nd 1999 h l
r nt r p rt f n xp r nt l pr r d n d t h ht n th nt r t f l nd n r n pr t t n nd n r d p n th r pr p rt h l r d l d
ft r tr d t n l r r l l nd-l r nt h r n f r r l l nd fr n th r f r r f r h pr d t n (App nd x In h f l r d l r d t p rt p t n th
xp r nt l pr r th
2.2 S n l Ex l n f C ttl
h r r p t v nd n t v p t f l r h rb v r r z n n d b . h n t v p t n l d : ( d n d n v t t n n r f th b th t b p th (2 n tr nt np t fr f l t r l nd ( th p t nt l t tr pl
n t v p n l d n b t rtl nd . h p t v p t th r t rd t n f
d v t t n r th th t th n p r n p n. In rd r t r d th n t v
p t f ttl n th tl nd b t t ll ll th ttl r tr t d , n l
x l n f n r t d r nd th p n p t h n l f 4 nd l t r xt nd d n
v b r 6 ( r 6 . h d t x l d ttl d r n th n th t
b n th t ( r n n nd p n th t d r n th nt r f r r z n nd br n . bl pr v d d t f ttl x l n.
2.3 Headstarting
In , r v d f l (0.2 v d t Atl nt , nd r th r f nn
r n, t p rt p t n h d t rt n n t t v th t nd r n rth C r l n t th t . d t rt n t r d n n d ff r nt ppl t n n t rtl n rv t n.
In th t d t d r b th n b t n f h l n th pr t t v t d f
n xp r n d r r h r nd th d t r l f h t hl n b nt th ld.
d t rt n n t pr ntl n d r d v bl n rv t n pt n f r th pr j t.
2.4 A C ll t n nd An l
l d ll t d fr x t rtl n ( bl 2 . A xtr t d nd
nt t r. rd, n rv t n n t t, t r tb r St t Un v r t n
M r l nd. r. rd r n th r. fr USGS n n tt pt t d v l p
n t "f n rpr nt" t rtl . Add t n l A pl r ll t d fr t th r
t n th nt ( r 2, S t 2 nd 4 . A h ld ll r r h r t t r l t n h p b t n p p l t n f t rtl n d ff r nt t ll t rtl th n t .
h nf r t n ll b xtr l v l bl f r f t r r r h n ff t v p p l t n
z nd nbr d n ff nt , nd f r t bl h n n nt d l n .
2. W r h p nd M t n
h r h S t "A" h rv d f ld t f r v r l r h p nd
t n . h n l d :
➢ M n nt W r h p. M , . Att nd d b 4 nd v d l fr h n : US h nd W ldl f S rv , rth C r l n W ldl f r C n, t r l r C n rv t n S rv , r j t rtl , h rth C r l n t r C n rv n , Un v r t f rth C r l n t Gr n b r , Un v r t f rth C r l n t A h v ll , Un v r t f r n t l b r , hr t r M nd A r , h rth C r l n l l r , l d r t ff fr r n nd rth C r l n , nd S h l M f t r l t r ( r .
➢ t r l r C n rv t n S rv ff l t th l nd n r nd v t d th t . M 20, . Ev rh rt, C nt tr t S p rv r nd An l p, CS En n r d d th pr j t th l hn n (th n Ch f , nd t t ff l ( r 8 . n n l pp rt fr th CS f ll d, h h h ll d th pr j t t nt n .
> S rr Cl b M t n , th ll Ch pt r. n 6. d p rt n f h b t t nd n rv t n n t t v nd r . rtn r n n n nd n n v rn nt l n ( GO n r d. h S rr Cl b pr v d d th pr j t th an intern from Duke University, Ingrid Franzen, in the summer of 1996. Her assistance allowed data collection to continue in 1996.
> The Duke Power Company Foundation, Environmental Division representatives John Garton and Dale Mostellar and North Carolina Wildlife Federation (then) Executive Director, Tom Bean met with project scientists. June 1997. Discussed importance of habitat and conservation initiatives underway. Partnering among agencies and NGOs was encouraged. Financial support from both agencies followed which assisted in supporting the work reported in this document.
> Future activities: Endangered Species Workshop for Teachers sponsored by USFWS. June 5, 1999. Teachers will work on fencing, check traps, probe for turtles, and learn about the hydrology and vegetation issues of concern to the project.
. p l t n A nt
3.1 Introduction
Most of the significant research delineating the range and habitat of bog turtles has been conducted in the last several decades (Lee and Norden 1996). At the same time, a drastic decline in numbers of sites and sizes of populations within many of the remaining sites have been reported (Herman 1994; Lee and Norden 1996; Herman and Tryon 1997).
There are still major gaps in our knowledge about the demographics and population dynamics of the species (Herman 1994; Lee and Norden 1996). Only recently has there been enough information available to allow the northern population to be included on the federal endangered species list; adequate surveys still have not been completed for the southern population (USFWS 1997).
In order to assess the threat of extinction of any species, the viability of the individual populations and metapopulations must be determined. A turtle sighting or a site inhabited by a few individuals does not necessarily mean that a viable population is present. Since bog turtles are long-lived, individuals may occupy sites long after the site is incapable of supporting a healthy population (Lee and Norden 1996; Herman and Tryon
1997).
Only a few remaining sites are considered good, and population sizes and other demographic data remain largely unknown. Only 17% of the remaining sites in the northern population are considered good; 75% are considered fair or poor; and 8% are of unknown status (USFWS 1997). Herman (1994) assessed the viability of populations in the south and concluded that only 23% (11) can be considered viable. In r p n t th l r n t t t th r r n nt r t n r v v n t th t h v f ll n nt d l n v r t d t th r r n t d th t r p rt n r t r t n ff rt f d b n th th n th t d nd rt n n n
tt pt t n r t d t th t n b d t h lp d n r t r t n ff rt l h r In
rd r t th r f l r f n r t r t n pr j t pr -tr t nt d t t b
v l bl t f l t t b f r - nd- ft r p r n h l f th t d r t d t r n (1 b l n p p l t n n b r pr r t t nh n nt ff rt ; nd ( f
n l x l n f ttl ld n r p p l t n z n t th t h v l
p t d b l v t
3 M th d
3.2.1 Field Methods
rtl r h nd- ll t d b v l r h h l pr b n th t (l br t fr 1993-199 rtl r l tr pp d th h nd- d r h tr p l th t f h (1993 th t r n t b t d ( r 9 C pt r d b t rtl r p r n ntl r d th ll n t h n r n l t th tr n l r f l l th t
f C l (1939 nd r n (19 1 h t rtl r n b r d n th rd r n h h th
r f nd All th r t rtl p n nt r d r n t d
t ll t d n b t rtl n l d d x t l t n nd n r l h b t t t p f
pt r d t rtl ; pt r th d (tr p n l h nd ; rph tr r nt d r b d b l ; d t f pt r ; x nd r pr d t v t t f n n
All b t rtl r r d f r tr ht-l n r p l n th (SC dth h ll h ht nd pl tr n l n th n 15 - d l l p r ; r d n r th 3 - r l pr n l rtl r x d b xt rn l n p t n d lt l h v n v pl tr n l n r t l nd r p t r rl pl d l th n f l A t t d b nt n nn l n (1991 l d dr n fr th d r l rv l n f x t rtl f r f t r A n l (S rtl r
l t l r l d d t l t th t f pt r E rl n th t v n f
1995 f t rtl r t n nt pt v t f r h rt t f r tr n tt r tt h nt
r h r nd t nt l t r b r pr f nt nd r f rt bl h n n tr n tt r n th f ld
.2.2 d tr n
v t rtl r f ll d b r d t l tr d r n 1995 nd 199 nd br fl n
1997 r n tt r ( El tr n 15 Mhz r n d n t n f r l x
nd d nt l r l nd n h r d t th r p th 5- n t p x nd t p x
n E l r t (199 W ht dd t n r n d fr - r nd d d n t x d th r nd d 7 f b d ht d l n (S h b r 19 1 E l r t l 199 In n
tt pt t xt nd b tt r l f v r th nt r xp r nt d th tr n tt r tf tt d
th b tt r (r th r th n 1 n th f ll f 1995 b t d nt n d t b th
dd t n l ht x d d pr t l ( 9 f b d ht
In 1995 t rtl nd 5 r n t r d n v r f v r d b t n - n nd -S pt b r ( v r 3 t nd n v r f v r 11 5 d
( v r 5 3 t n th f ll (1 -S p thr h 3- nd n ll thr h t th
nt r nth In 199 t rtl 1 5 nd r n t r d n v r f v r
d b t n 1- n nd - l ( v r t nd n v r f v r 3 5 d ( v r 5 5 t fr th nd f l t d- b r rtl 1 tr d n ll thr h t th nt r f 199 -1997
E h t t rtl l t d n th p n p t h ( 1 t p t n b r n
(n r t ° nd d t n r d t th n r t f n p t All f n p t r
rv d nd pl tt d n th A t CA p n r t d b CS n n r ( r 3
t n f t rtl n th l d p t h ( r r d t l nd r h l r tr th t r pl tt d b r n d t n nd b r n fr f x d rv p nt Onl
n t rtl b rv d n th h f ld p t h ( 3 nd nl th ppr x t l t n
r rd d f r th t b rv t n (App nd x I
.2. d t rt n
In n f 1993 t rtl t n nt pt v t nd l d t Atl nt
nd r th r f nn r n (S rtl th nl rv v n h t hl n
nd r l d nt th t n -A -93 t hl n h v fl x bl r p nd r d ff lt t p r n ntl n t h h n t ll b d ff lt t b r f th t rtl d nt t f
pt r t n h f th t rtl b th nl l
. lt
A t t l f b rv t n r d f 1 l v b t rtl b t n 1993-199 ;
n h t hl n t rtl f nd d d n ttl dr pp n n f ld rr nd n th r r
n 11-M -95 h t hl n r rl n r v r pt r d n tr p rl n
v r pt r d n th t b n n v l r h n r tr pp n v n l pp r d n th tr p b r 3 ( 7 9 1 1 1 t rtl nd r th f 5 v r d v r d b n n th r th n tr pp n x pt h t hl n n d lt r b-
d lt h v b n pt r d n l 199 v n th h v r 1 tr p h r h v b n
xp nd d n th t t ( bl
Turtle 0.2a (headstarted) has not been seen since its release as a hatchling in 1993.
The number of recaptures of turtles indicate that all sub-adult and adult turtles that inhabit the open patch or seasonally use the open patch have been captured. Indeed it is quite possible that all individuals over the age of 3 in the open patch have been trapped. It is unlikely that turtle 0.2a (5 years old in 1998) would have gone undetected with such intense trapping effort at the site and is not presently counted in the population estimate.
However, it is possible this turtle is still alive and has either moved to a different area, evaded the traps or was misidentified as another turtle (see below).
In 1998, a young assistant mistakenly identified one turtle captured as 0.8. She noted that it was difficult to find a marginal notch on the animal. However, the turtle did not match the description of 0.8 and was most likely 1.0 or (unlikely) a previously uncaptured turtle from a 1993 clutch (0.2a). Turtle 1.0 was weakly marked in 1996 as a 2- year-old by Ingrid Franzen, a summer intern (Franzen, pers. com.) and has not been seen since. It is also possible that the misidentified turtle represents a new turtle.
Turtle 0.2 died in May of 1996 while carrying a radio-transmitter. A necropsy revealed 3 yoked eggs and no discernable illness or infection; the cause of death remains a mystery.
The most responsible estimate for the 1998 bog turtle population is believed to be about 10 (all turtles except 0.2 and 0.2a are presumed to be alive). The p t r r estimate of the population number prior to the seasonal exclusion of cattle in 1994 was 7 individuals (Table 3). Hence, these data suggest an increase of 43% in the population since intervention began. The Research Site "A" population is growing: 60% of the 1998 p p l t n r b- d lt r j v n l At th t d n t n b t t d t 1 t rtl p r h t r
3 C n l n nd n
3.4.1 Population Size Increase
h n r n p p l t n n r nt r th h ll n b l t t r n t
n n f nt nd t ll r pr nt l r n r ( 3 f r h ll p p l t n
( bl 3 S v r l f t r pp r t h v ntr b t d On th r t n f th ttl
x l n f n C ttl t tl nd r f f d h n p t r r d pl t d nd nj th l n ff t f d n h t th r r r t r t n f th f n t f 1 h d n f h v p t b h f tr ff (S 1 ; r
h r r nd t n th t x l d n l v t n ll h b n b n f l f r th t rtl
t th t It pp r fr th f t rtl 9 1 nd 1 1 th t th r f l
l t h n 199 h d d h t hl n d v r d n M f 1995 l h v b n fr th t l t h An dd t n l n t f l n 1995 h h r lt d n t l t n l v
ff pr n (t rtl h n r b ttr b t d t pr t t n f th n t r ( pr v d d b th l v t x l n f n r t d n 1 n l 199
An th r f t r pr b bl ntr b t d t r nt r r t nt h r t l t n
f l n t h r fr 199 -1995 r n th t p r d th r r t f l f r pr d t v n th p p l t n nd It t pt n t p t th t t rtl f r pr d t v r nd 199 nd th th r f n r r f th l t h A v d n n pr v d n ht nt th h p th (S
rtl r v d th thr h n h d d n 199
A n r n th n r r n rn r n t th l n -t r v b l t f th p p l t n b f t ll z C n rv t n b l t h v l n
n n th t ll p p l t n r h hl pr n t xt n t n (Sh ff r 19 1 19 7; G lp n
19 7; nd nd rr l h 19 7; M ff nd C rr ll 199 ; r 199 h r r
n n rn n l d n l f n t v r b l t nbr d n nd n t dr ft
Env r n nt l nd d r ph fl t t n l p r thr t
.4.2 r ph C n rn .
h r r nd t n th t h lth r n x t n th b t rtl p p l t n t
r h S t "A" b t th t th p p l t n z ll ( bl Ov r tr p h r h v b n l d n th l t r nd nl 11 nd v d l b t rtl h v b n
d nt f d h d th f d lt f l t rtl n M f 199 l v nl n n n
d lt f l n th p p l t n (t rtl
r ph n rt nt n p rt nt n rn f r ll p p l t n (S l
19 7 h l f t rtl n b n d r d d r ph t tr ph f r th ll p p l t n b h n f nl t f l f r pr d t v h t rtl ld h v b n n d r d th n l t p rt nt nd v d l n th p p l t n n t r f r pr d t v v l b f h r nd r nd n Add t n ll h r r n f
t v t h d n f nt v rl p th l 1 nd 5 p r tt n rt nt th t h ld h v n tr bl n nt r n t Ind d t rtl 5 nd r ft n n t d n th
d t v n t f n n th r d r n n d ff r nt t f th r n 1995 h l b th r b n t l t r d In ll p p l t n p t nt l t h v d ff lt n f nd n n n th r
(All ff t f rth r r d n r r t nt rtl th nl r n n d lt f l
p nd t f h r t n th l d p t h h l b th d lt l p nd t f th r t n th p n p t h ( r 11; App nd x I lth h b th d lt l
n l v t t th l d p t h I l t d f l n r n r th p n p t h h
n h n t r d 199 1995 nd 199 On n th r n 15-M -97 I tr d l 1 nd f nd h n th f v r t p t f f l (Ch pt r S 3
f th v nt I t l pt t th t th f l ll f nd t t l t n r
t fr n th r t n rth C r l n nd t th t rth C r l n b t rtl
nl r pr d v r nd r th rd n n th ld v n th h th r b l ll
p bl f r pr d n v r n ( r n 199 f th nd th r n
nt n d b v I b l v t r n bl t xp t r r t nt t l ft r th d th f
d lt f l n 199 h t t n t th t th r r pr bl f r th l n -r n rv v l f th p p l t n bl h d nf r t n n h t p r nt f f l n h lth p p l t n n b xp t d t b r v d h r n t
v l bl b t rt nl th r v r t n n r pr d t v tp t f nd v d l nd r n f r n rn n n p p l t n h r th r nl n d lt f l
.4. Inbr d n C n rn
M t n n r h S t "A" p p l t n l l rr n b t n l l r l t d t rtl ( bl n th r- n t Inbr d n n rn n l d r d d f tn f
nd v d l d t f x d ll l (r d d n t v r t n nd b ld p f d l t r n C n pr bl n l d r d t n n tr t t d th f tn h b d z f nd t nd l n v t ( nd nd rr l h 19 7 pl t d n t v r t n
l r lt n r d d b l t t d pt t h n n th nv r n nt
l d pl r t n fr x t rtl t th t nd fr n l t rtl t
h f th t l t t n th dr n A xtr t d fr th bl d
pl nd h pp d t r tb r St t Un v r t h r ff rt r nd r t d v l p
n th t ll ll t rtl t b n t ll "f n rpr nt d " p f ll ll n b bl t d t r n p r nt nd nbr d n ff nt nd th b bl t th
n t h lth f th p p l t n Ex n t n f th A f n r r t ld v
nf r t n b t th f tn f th nd v d l d lt n th p p l t n h n l n f th A d t nt th r n p t r f th p p l t n ll v dd t n l n ht
nt th d n t r n th t n th l t lr d t pp r nt fr
x t n d t th t th p p l t n n r d n r f xt rp t n b f t ll
z A nd nd rr l h (19 7 p nt t d r ph f t r ( h z nd
r th r t t pr d n v r n t n rn n n t v r t n n t
p rt nt f th p p l t n b xt n t
3.4.4 Size Concerns
S z j t n f th n f t r th t t b h d h n n th p t nt l f r p p l t n t p r t v n n th h rt t r (5 -1 r Oth r
n d r t n n l d t l t pr t t n nd nn t dn ; n t f t r ;
ff t v p p l t n z ; l t tr nd nd fl t t n ; nd n th r v r n
rt n p p l t n z b th f t d t n rn ( nd nd Barrowclough 1987). I believe the Research Site "A" population is just such a case.
3.5 Are Small, Isolated Populations Worth Saving?
Many populations of birds have survived for 80 years with 10 or fewer breeding pairs (Primack 1998) and northern elephant seals have recovered to a population of 30,000 after being reduced by hunting to only about 20 individuals (Bonnell and Selander 1974).
Despite these encouraging cases, it is clear that small populations are in real danger of going extinct even in the short term (Shaffer 1981; Gilpin and Soulé 1986; Pimm et al.
1988). Since most populations of bog turtles are small, it is clear that we cannot save all of them. We must focus our conservation efforts on saving and enhancing populations that may be important to the viability of the species as a whole. We should also keep in mind that all species provide services in their ecosystems and these contributions must not be undervalued. Hence, some small populations may be worthy of conservation efforts if enhancement efforts are underway or imminent, by merit of their eco-services or potential for such services, even if they are not seen as important for the survival of the species as a whole.
How can we determine where to best utilize our efforts? Although it is quite clear that we cannot save every remnant population, it may be irresponsible to give up entirely on all small populations. Most of the remaining populations of bog turtles r ll. Most populations in Virginia consist of fewer than 20 individuals (Buhlmann et al. 1997) and are found in sites 1-2 hectares in size. North Carolina sites are usually less than three hectares and have populations < 35 turtles per hectare (Herman and Tryon 1997). We must carefully consider our conservation alternatives under these conditions. A rd n t Kl n (1997 l l tr b n r W t n t tr nd v v r p f h b t t nd v r d n p p l t n h rn l t nd p
th p t h f n th n An nt l p n nt f n rv t n pl n f r n p
n l d f th t t f p p l t n nd nd v d l t t l h d t f r t
th rn b t rtl p p l t n
In rd r t ddr th pr bl f n ff nt d t Kl n (1993 d v l p d pr t l ll d "St nd rd z d rtl S t - l t An l " t th p t f
t t nt n v bl p p l t n f b t rtl S t r r n d rd n t f r f t r (1 h b t t z nd d r f fr nt t n; ( th pr n f nv v pl nt
nd l t r n l p ; (3 d t thr t h tl nd d t h n f ll n r
x v t n; nd ( th t p nd xt nt f l nd n th r h f r t t r ddr th f nt r nn t dn th th r tl nd nd p p l t n ( p t nt l f r
t p p l t n p l t n z nd v d n f r r t nt r l t n nt nt
h n h d t r v l bl nd r l th n 1 r ld v t r r l t d
nd r p p l t n z t n n t nt n 5 r r nd v d l r r n d n th h h t t r ; t th f r th n 5 nd v d l r r n d th l t h r r thr p bl t fr th "St nd rd z d rtl S t - l t An l " n n-v bl p bl v bl nd v bl Alth h Kl n pr d ntl t dd t n l nt t t v
rv b n d d t r t l d t r n v b l t th t l pr v d n x ll nt pl t t rt l l tr r t n rv t n t ll n ntr t ff rt n th
"v bl " nd "p bl v bl " t nd ll th "n n-v bl " t t h t v r f t
On t nt t - l t nt t d t r n th l v l f nt r t n r v v n t nd n r r l l n rv t n t b d f n t l nt r t d r n t
nt r t d t ll n h pr j t S t th t r n "n n-v bl " ll h v n dd t n l
tr n t th f th r n l nd n r nt r t r n nt r t n th p rt f l l
n rv t n t t pr v th t
.6 On C n d r n A nt t n
"... t n l t th bj t [ f n v bl p p l t n z ] nt r l t th r n r n f th n n f ll p p l t n z r hf l th n n "
dd nd S l 1991
.6. t n l
Ind v d l f nd n p p l t n th t r d d t xt n t n r r f rr d t
"th l v n d d" ( r 199 S h t r ppr pr t n h r th
nd v d l ll n t h v th pp rt n t t ntr b t n t t r l t f t r
n r t n b f th n b l t f th r p p l t n t p r t n th h rt t r (3 -5
r S t th t r l rl n n-v bl b b t t l z d r f nd v d l f r
r f ll pl nn d nt t n pr r Aft r th r h h lth nt nd v d l
ld b v d t v bl r p bl v bl p p l t n n th r n rb dr n
h r t pr v nt pr j t r nd r nd b l n p p l t n d t t th t
h t n rr nt d n nt nd v d l ht pr v d n t t r l r
t f r t rtl n ll p p l t n n n rb t n nt l b v d t r v r n t nl l n n h t t n nt f l ld b ll d t l
n th r v r n t r ll p p l t n t p r t x h n f nd v d l b t n p p l t n t r t v d nbr d n d pr n ( r 1995; G lp n 19 7 S ll h ll tl nd n r p dl nd r n f nt v t t n h n (K v t
197 A b t rtl ld pr b bl v fr n d l n n l n t r f
pr v n l t d t r d t n f th ff nd n d pl nt r lt f f r r b v r t v t ( nd rd n 199 Ind d t p p l t n f b t rtl r b l v d t x t t p p l t n n h h x h n f nd v d l v r p rt nt
p t ( hl nn t l 1997 A p p l t n n d r d n t ll l t d f th r l th n n ff t v r nt p r n r t n ( d nd rr l h 19 7 h fl
f nd v d l b t n p p l t n b l v d t h v f v r bl n t nd d r ph
n n (G lp n 19 7 nd h b n ptl t r d th r ff t b r n nd
K dr - r n (1977 In th f b t rtl th v nt ld n t r ll t pl n th r n rb dr n
S r n rn h v b n r d b t th dv b l t f v n nd v d l t d ff r nt l t n f r v r v l d r n (C n nt 19 ; n rt 1991; dd nd S l 1991;
St rf r 199 ; K r 1997; n rt nd p rt 1999 h n l d d tr n n
nd l f tt nt n t n t d r ph nd h b t t n rn On f th pr r
bj t n th r t l l f nf r t n n l n -t r r f l r f h rp t f n l-r l t d pr j t ( dd nd S l 1991 Ch r t r t f v l d
xp r nt l tr n l t n h ld n l d (1 ll t n f b l n p p l t n d t ( d n tr t d n d f r dd t n l n t r d r ph nt t n (3 n l d f th f d l n ( l n t n f pr bl h h d th d l n (5 h lth
h n n l t b r l d ( pr v n f r f ll - p t d t p r d nt rv l
nd (7 ll n n t p bl h th th d l nd r lt f th pr r r rdl f success or failure (Dodd and Seigel 1991). Experimentation and long-term monitoring are
necessary before augmentation programs should be employed as an acceptable
conservation strategy. Indeed, such research is critically needed in order to make sound
judgements regarding conservation options, since translocation and augmentation are not proven management techniques.
Research Site "A" site ranks as "possibly viable" using the "Standardized Bog
Turtle Site-quality Analysis" and may be an ideal site for this type of research. Many of
the above criteria have already been met at Research Site "A" site: baseline population data
are reported in this document; the demographic need is clear; the habitat is clearly suitable;
genetic studies are underway; site enhancement efforts are underway; and evidence exists
that conditions have improved (see Results, Chapters 3 and 4). There is every expectation
that this project will continue with or without funding. Studies are underway to identify a
source for an animal suitable for augmentation (Chapter 7).
Relocating reptiles can threaten the survival of that individuaL Some relocated
animals do not reestablish home ranges (Belzer 1996) and mortality rates can increase
(Reinert and Rupert 1999). Unmonitored animals may move away from suitable habitat as if attempting to locate familiar territory and wander into harms way (like roads) or
otherwise be lost to the project. A critical aspect of translocating individuals then, is to monitor them. Moving turtles into a monitored project can protect translocated individuals
and aid in conservation efforts (Belzer 1996). Animals that do not adjust well could be rescued and moved back to the original site. Even if only one clutch is laid (in the case of females) or one successful mating occurs (in the case of males) the recovering population ld b n f t h offspring f tr n l t d nd v d l h ld h v n tr bl dj t n ( lz r 199 t th n t
n t n r d ff lt h t b d ft n n th b n f
d t d t Wh n th t f lt rn t t n r n rt n t h rd t
nt p t nt t v l h h n ll b b t (M r t l 19 7 G d d t ll t n
nd nt f xp r nt t n ll r tl t r d n n pr
I r nd th t b n t r h f r r f f l b t rtl n n
tt pt t nt th p p l t n t r h S t "A" On p b l t th r h
S t " " ( r n th r v r dr n h h hl d r d d t nd r n
"n n-v bl " n Kl n (1993 "St nd rd z d rtl S t - l t An l "
r bl th r n l d l ttl r n n h b t t; dv n d d n; r pr r
tt pt t dr n th t n t l ; nd n nt r t n r t r n th t b th r th l nd n r r l l n rv t n t A rd n t S l (19 7 " th r r n h p l
nl p pl th t h p nd xp n v " t r t n f th n n-v bl
r h S t " " n t b h p l t j t b n n h h th r n nt r t
St d ll b nd t d n 1999 th t ll dd t x t n p p l t n d t n
r h S t " " Add t n ll tr pp n ff rt ll b n r d n th h f ld p t h f
r h S t "A" t p bl d t r n f th r r dd t n l t rtl r d n th r
(Ch pt r 7 A bl d pl fr th tr n l t d t rtl h ld ll t d nt f h r
ff pr n h ld h r pr d n th n t Str t d l n t r n b r d t l tr
ll b p rt f th r nd t n n f th n rn th t b t rtl n t ttl
ll nt n n-n t l t h v l f h n xp r nt th t b bl t l rn r b t r l t d t tr n l t n f b t rtl h l r p nd n t d r ph r t n pr v n t .
.6.2 lf hn l ?
lf t hn l t r th t f r t d n n rv t n nt xt b t
r z r (199 h t r d r b n rv t n r th t ddr th pt f pr bl r th r th n th r z r d t t d r b th n ff t v n f h d t rt n
t rtl h n pr t t th fr h z rd f rl l f - t b t p t th b nt th nh lth n h r th r p r nt ld n t rv v r n l t n nd
nt t n l f ll nt th t r f h lf t hn l h n th r
r d t v t rtl nt t h r th r n l ( f d l n h n t b n
ddr d
h n t th t r h S t "A" r l n r d t nd t th t
n rv t n ff rt t th t h v pr v d nd t n f r th b t rtl Eff rt b n b n ll x l d n ttl h n l v t x l n f n n tr t d n 199
(S Add t n l f n n n 199 n l d r t r p rt n f th r r nd h v f nd t rtl t l z n th pr v d r (Ch pt r ; App nd x I An t t f th p p l t n f t rtl n th t pr r t n rv t n ff rt 7 nd v d l S n th n 5 t rtl h v b n dd d t th p p l t n ( 3 n r h r pr nt
n f nt n r nd h v n r n t b pt t b t nd t n t th t
t r t n th pr r n nt tr t r nd d f r h b t t th t r
n n t nt n b t rtl (K v t 197 ; r n 199 ; nd rd n 199 b t h v f ll n nt d l n d t r v l f l v t v r t n p t r n r dr n b d t h n Wh n t r pr v d p p l t n r n t b bl t
n r t t n bl l v l Exp r nt t n n p p l t n nt t n f ll n h b t t pr v nt r l n d d
3.6.3 Experimental Short-distance Translocation
On 1 - n -1997 I tr n l t d t rtl h rt d t n n rd r t b rv h b h v r rtl 1 v d fr th p n p t h ( 1 h r h p nt 9 f h t t th h f ld p t h ( 3 h r h h d n v r b n b rv d h p rp f th xp r nt t f th t rtl ld n tt pt t r t rn t th p n p t h
tr d t d l f r b t t nd n v r v d r th n
t r fr th r l p nt th n r t rn d t th p n p t h 4. b t t r f r n : An A nt In A t n W th b t t Enh n nt Eff rt
4. Intr d t n
In rd r t nh n t t f l t n h h r th n th t th t rtl pr f r th t p rt nt r h b t t t p r n r d h l f th t d t d t r n (1 f ll thr tl nd t r h S t "A" r t l z d b b t rtl ; ( f
v nt r b t n th thr d ff r nt tl nd p t h ; (3 f n f th thr p t h pr f rr d v r th th r ; nd ( r h b t t pr f r n
4.2 M th d
4.2.1 Field Methods
rtl r f nd n v l r h t hn nd tr p (S 3 S t rtl r tf tt d th r d -tr n tt r nd th r x t l t n nd n r l h b t t r rd d
b t t t r z d 1 - t d ( d / r d n nt ; - d
h b t t; 3 - ld r n p n p t h (Alnus serrulata); 4 tr n p ; r 5 - n tr r
tr b n f l d p t h W t d d f n d l th l l v l h rb v t t n p d f tl nd- t d pl nt ( h Carex pp Scirpus
pp Juncus pp t W t d h b t t t r 1 f nd n th p n p t h nl Ed h b t t t r th n t r f t- d / ld r r t- d /tr
n p d nd f nd n b th th p n nd l d p t h C t r 3 ld r h b t t
f nd n th nt r f th p n p t h h ld r b nd r n l d d n ll f r f th p n p t h ( r 3 ; App nd x I C t r nd 5 r h b t t f th l d p t h r n p h r t r z d t f th l d p t h ( x pt f r th W r - d d nd n l d d p h p n (Toxicodendron vernix), r d
pl (Acer rubrum), b x ld r (Acer negundo), r n h (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) nd
A r n h (Fraxinus americana). Ch - r n l f nt n n t bl d t x n th r l t n h p b t n d t t n th d (t l tr r h nd/tr p nd
pp r nt pr f r n f r r r v t t n t p
4.2.2 Home Range Estimation
r n l ( 1 5 pl z f r th n f x r v l bl
r p nd t l tr l t n r p l d f r x n t n f h r n z r n z r d t r n d f r th n l n f x d rn l d n t t t r
(K rn lhr v r S n nd ll n r d z f nd b nd dth r
th n p r t r f h f x d b nd dth d b th t rtl t nd d t
th l t n r p t dl pr l d n f th th r pr f r bl (S n nd
ll 199 l t r r v l d t n th d
4. lt
4.3.1 Patch Preferences
rtl r f nd n ll thr tl nd p t h b t pr f rr d th p n p t h In f t 3 f ll t rtl l t d r n th tl nd r ( bl r pp n l t d n th l d p t h d t ttl r lt n n d t n t b n th ll t n f tr p ff rt (tr p ff rt n th p n p t h n t t t d 75 f t t l tr p ff rt h r fl t d n th pp r nt p t h pr f r n t d b th tr pp n
d t ( bl Ch - r n l t d d ff r n b t n p t h pr f r n
nd t d b t l tr d t nd p t h pr f r n t d b ll n n-t l tr
b rv t n b n d ( r n Ch - r = = f th ff t t l tr d t r n l z d n nb d nd t r f h b t t p tt rn bl 5 r pr nt th p t h pr f r n f r d -t l t r d t rtl
n t rtl f nd n ll thr p t h On t rtl ( 3 b rv d n b th th p n p t h ( 1 nd th h f ld p t h ( 3 rtl 3 tr pp d t t l f
t thr n t v t n th p n p t h nd n r th r n th h f ld p t h h t rtl h n t b n n n th pt r n th h f ld p t h b t b l v d t t ll b th r (App nd x I
hr t rtl ( 1 nd 5; ll th d lt x pt t rtl r b rv d n b th th p n p t h nd th l d p t h ( 1 nd rtl 1 p nt t f h t n th p n p t h th n l f r t th l d p t h; 3 t f 3 b rv t n r n th l d p t h (1 rtl 5 b rv d n n th l d p t h t f b rv t n rtl p nt t f h r t n th l d p t h th f r t th p n p t h; t f 3 b rv t n (7 r n th l d p t h rtl 7
9 1 nd 1 1 r n v r b rv d t d f th p n p t h (App nd x I rtl
n l r n h r pr f r n f r th l d p t h
4. .2 b t t r f r n
rtl h pr f r n f r l -l v l d nd r r d h b t t 79
f th t pp d t ld r l d n p h b t t r tr b n h h nt d f r
nl 1 f th r rd ( bl r 1 ( t n 5 f h b t t n t r rd d
Unl th th r t b rv t n f t rtl r n th l d p t h (
nd t f th b rv t n th n th t r r n th r b n r n th r th t
r n t fr th pr n f th t tl nd Onl n n th r t rtl b rv d n th
r b n t rtl 1 ( l tr d t th f v r t p t f t rtl ( f l n th
r b n nd r th r t f n pl tr n 15-M -97 r bl th
t n f r ; h v r t rtl n t pp d th tr n tt r t th t t h r pr n n t nf r d (App nd x I
An l f h b t t pr f r n f r d -tr d t rtl n p r n t pr f r n f t rtl l t d b ll th r n t d n n f nt d ff r n d t b ( r n Ch - r = = 5 v r n n-t l tr th d f l d t
d t t t rtl f th l t- t l z d l d- n p r
h d t l r fl t l rl th t t rtl n n h r h f f v r d
h b t t Sh h d r r bl ff n t f r th tr nd tr -b n h b t t n th
l d p t h nt n f r ll th r rd f rr n n th t h b t t v n ( bl
7 r 11
r d n n l b d l l n r d -tr n d t ll tr t th p t f th
n l n l n n r l z t n r rd n t rtl pr f r n r h f th 5 t rtl tr d h h b t t t p n d r n r b d n th t rtl pr f r n f r th t h b t t th 1 nd t n th h h t n b r f b rv t n n th t h b t t nd 5 th l t r d n t - n l f th pr f r n r n n f th d ff r nt h b t t f r
h t rtl d d pp rt th h p th f r nt n th t rtl b t nl r n ll
( r d n t t t = 9 7 = 5 h K nd ll n rd n ff nt f r th pr f r n r n n f th f v n l nl 9 h n l tt n t rtl ld d = 19 nd n rd n ff nt f 73
4.3.3 Home Range Size
h 95 h r n t t r 1 - 15 h t r f r th n l x n d
( bl h v r f th h r n f r th f l th f r th l
( 13 h n th f x d rn l d n t th d
4.3.4 Use of Improved Areas
r r t th r t n f th r n l x l n f n ( l 199 n r n th l r
nd f th ld r f th p n p t h d n d d f v t t n b ttl r n t
p th (S 1 nd r A r lt f th pr t t n ff r d b th f n th
r r p n d nd r Alth h n pr -f n n h b t t pr f r n d t r
v l bl f r p r n p t-f n n l l t d t nd t th t t rtl f v r d th r Of th 19 t t rtl 1 l t d n th p n p t h f th r n th r v r n ttl p th ( 1 rtl 5 f nd n th r f th r v r n ttl p th 7 (15 f 55 r rd f th t nd h b rn t d th r n th nt r f 1995-9 rtl
l t d n th r v r n ttl p th 3 f th t (3 f 13 r rd rtl
nd 9 l t l z d th r f th ld ttl p th (App nd x I
An dd t n l f n r t d n v b r 199 h h n r d th r th t
pr t t d b th r n l f n ( r h h rb v t t n n th r pr t t d b th dd t n l f n r h t ll r nd t rtl b n n th r r th n th h d b f r r r t th dd t n l f n n nl t rtl d th r Aft r
v b r 199 t rtl 1 5 nd d th r (App nd x I
4. . b t t Ch n lt f C ttl Ex l n
S n ll x l d n ttl pr v d b n f l b ll n r - t bl h nt f v t t n n th d n d d r S d nd r d n t d r f th p n p t h r
ll d t r t ll r h t ll r h rb v t t n t ll ll d nl ht t p n tr t
t pr v d d v r f r th r t v t rtl nd th b n t t l z th r r (
b v
h ff t f x l d n ttl r n t ll p t v r h r b n t n t n t v ff t n th l nd h dr l f th p n r W t r th t n v d thr h th t n h t-fl b n t f r h nn l h h nn l b d p r n n nt th b tr t W t r b n t v thr h th t f t r nd r th t r t n pr r
r b n t dr t nd h rd n v n h n th r f v r bl (l v p r t n
ld t p r t r h h r nf ll It pp r th t ttl tr b n f t t b d r pt n h nn l f r t n nd p n th d ft nd t h l r t b t rtl p p l t n ( nd p bl th t v bl r t d th ttl r z n ( r n 199 nd x l d n ttl lt th r n t r nd d
f ll nd n t v t r n t r n p nt th ttl r x l d d fr th t f r l t 3 r ( bl 1 S n l r z n f th t h n r d d r n th l t f ll nt r nd rl pr n nth
4.4 C n l n nd n
h t d r nf r th r (C rt r 1997 th t nd t f h b t t t p
p rt nt rtl t r h S t "A" ll pr f rr d d nd d / r d n nt h b t t
h f nd n r th th r th t b t rtl pr f r l -l v l v t t n r
n pr n -f d tl nd h r r nd d d n t (Ch t 19 9; r n
199 ; C rt r 1997 rtl pr v d n nt r t n x pt n t th pr f rr n tr
nd tr b n l t n n l d n p nd t n C rt r (1997 f nd th t f 9 t rtl n 3 t n th t rn r n n v r t l z d tr h b t t Of th thr t rtl
n h t d th t t l z d tr h b t t nl n f nd n tr r th n 1 f th t h h rpl ntr t th t rtl h l t d n tr r tr b n h b t t v r 33 f th t n r h S t "A" ( r 11
Add t n ll th t rtl n r h S t "A" r f nd t pr f r d h b t t
( r 1 C rt r (1997 d d n t b rv th b h v r nd f nd th t b t rtl n th r
l t d n r v d d d h b t t n h t d
r n z n M r l nd r p rt d b Ch t (19 9 r 17 h f r
l nd f r f l n h r n n n l Ern t (1977 r p rt d 1 33 h h r n f r l nd 1 h f r f l n nn lv n b d n M n C nv x Polygon (MCP) analysis. Carter (1997) found that average home range sizes in southwestern Virginia were 0.47 ha for females and 0.57 ha for males using MCP analysis.
Using the same data points and calculating home range using cluster analysis he found average home ranges to be 0.17 ha for females and 0.13 ha for males. Kernel density analysis of data in Research Site "A" in North Carolina revealed home ranges (0.13 ha average for males and females) similar to those of Carter (1997) using cluster analysis.
However, comparison of the home ranges reported at this site with those reported at other sites should be conducted cautiously, as home range size estimates are sensitive to the choice of bandwidth at small sample sizes. . C pt r M th d Eff
5.1 Introduction
Eff rt r nd r t rv p t nt l h b t t thr h t th r n f th b t rtl t d t r n h r th r n f r th t v t v r n t th t nt n b t rtl r ll r th n 1 r th d n t f ll nd r th pr t t n f n
tl nd l l t n nd r d tr d b d v l p r r r d n tr t n b f r th r
d nt f d In th nt r t f pr rv n th p n rv t n b l t r n r t l t t b f r th r l t ( r n 1995; h rp 199 Alt rn t l tr n p rt t n
ff l n n r n f r nd d v l p r ft n n d h t r r p t nt l t v l t d
n rd r t bt n p r t b f r f ll n r th r d tr n t
Wh n p t nt l b t rtl t r l t d f r d v l p nt r r h r r ll d
p n t d t r n t n t th pr n r b n f th n l n t S t th t r rv d th t f nd n v d n f b t rtl n th n b d tr d
r ntl th r r n d l n f r d t l d t r n n th pr n r
b n f th p t rtl r n n t b r t v nd d ff lt t f nd nd n
l n b rv d v n b xp r n d r r h r ( pp l rt 1975; US WS 1997
h th p b l t x t th t t th t d nt n t rtl p ll t th ll p p l t n r b n v rl d
A n b r f n d nt d nt th pr bl On v r ll d r d d t n
rth C r l n rv d v r l t b f th t xp r n d r r h r n th t t th t pr d n t rtl S b ntl d lt t rtl ( n l d n n adults) were discovered when a backhoe operator dug them up in 1997 (David Sawyer, pers. com.; Thorp 1997). Another interesting example is a site discovered in a piedmont county in North Carolina in 1993. Three adult turtle shells as well as empty eggshells from a hatched nest were found there, confirming the site as bog turtle habitat. However, extensive visual surveys over a period of 5 years which included effort by at least 8 experienced researchers and a small amount of trapping effort have not yet produced one live turtle (NC State Museum files and pers. observation). If the adult shells or the eggshells were not present, this site would still not be confirmed. At the time of the discovery there were no records of bog turtles anywhere in that drainage or in that county.
If the site had been included in a development project at that time, investigators would have had little choice but to write a report stating that the site had been extensively surveyed with no bog turtles found, thus allowing the hypothetical project to proceed.
The most common method of assessing potential sites is by visual search techniques (Beane 1993; Smith 1994; Herman 1995). Searchers follow turtle tracks, pull back vegetation, and search the mud with broomsticks and by hand. Trapping was first used by researchers as a method of catching bog turtles in the south in the early 1990s by
Ken Fahey in Georgia and Dennis Herman in North Carolina (Fahey 1992, 1993; Herman
1992). Dennis Gemmell (1994) also reports trapping efforts in New Jersey. Trapping has since been used for surveys and as a census tool particularly in the Piedmont province of
North Carolina (Beane 1993; Thorp 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998; Green 1993,
1994; Herman 1995; Somers 1996, 1997, 1998). Trapping now serves as an important method of determining the presence of turtles in potential sites as well as assessing population status within sites. One piedmont site was surveyed many times using visual r h th n Wh n tr p r d th t ld d b t rtl th n th f r t h r ( h rp 1993 Ev n th h tr pp n h pr v n t b n ff t v t l f r
n th pr n f t rtl t n t ft n d t t l t d f r d v l p nt
M t r n n p p l t n f b t rtl r ll (S 3 1 nd l rn n r
b t h p p l t n p ll p rt nt t f r l t pl n f r rv v l f th
p h b t rtl p p l t n t r h S t "A" n n t b ll ( 7 1
t fr th p p l t n t d t th t r d t x n (1 ff t v n f v l r h n p r n th tr pp n n d t r n n th pr n f b t rtl n
t th ll p p l t n; ( pt l t f r t f nd t rtl n t th ll p p l t n nd (3 th n r l v l f ff rt t f nd t rtl n t th ll p p l t n lt fr tr pp n ff rt t r h S t "A" r p r d th
l r ff rt n C p r n S t "C" ( = + t d t r n th r l t v ff t v n f tr pp n t rtl n t th h lth p p l t n f b t rtl pp d t t th
ll p p l t n
5 M th d
.2. C pt r t hn ( l S 3
C ll t n f t rtl b n f v l r h n pr b n t nd b n n-b t d h nd d tr p ( r 9 t n r r h r t d nt l nd n r nd v l nt r t d n d t ll t n l r h t r r rd d ft r h v t
nd r l l t d f r h r nd v d ll r t th t nv lv d v r d t (r rd n t rtl l t n tt nd n t v t r n d r t l n th t d nt r l nd n r nl t p nt n t v r h n r rd d r p r pl d n d v l r n r b t n d l p n b t 1 f t r ( lth h d t h dr l v r t n th l v l h n d nd h d v r - h r C pt r d b t rtl r p r n ntl r d th ll n t h n th r n l
t d th tr n l r f l l th t f C l (1939 nd r n (19 1 nd r l d t th t
On tr p h r l l t d n tr p n th t f r n h r r p r d
n th thr p t h f r t t l f 15 9 tr p h r v r th - r t d M t ff rt
xp nd d n 199 (3 nd 1995 ( 9 Or n ll n 1993 nd 199 tr p r pl d r nd l n th thr tl nd r 1995-199 tr p r pl d n r h r t rtl
r xp t d nd r th t h d b n n n-pr d t v n th p t r v d d
r pp n d t l t d d r n th l d p t h (1 f t t l tr p ff rt b th r p n t r z n ttl thr h t th r nd tr p pl d th r
r t f nd tr pl d (n t rtl f n p v r h r d W tr pp d h v l n th h f ld p t h n 199 nd 1995 h r t f 7 r 5 3 f th t t l ff rt n th r Aft r 1995 nl n r tr pp n ff rt xp nd d n th h f ld b nl n b t rtl v r ht n th t r n r pp n rr d pr r l n 1 (75 f t t l ff rt f r ll 5 r b th tr p r r
ff t v th r nd r pr t t d fr ttl d b th l v t x l n f n
n tr t d n 199
5.3 Trapping vs. Visual Search
Trapping is anecdotally reported to be very successful under some circumstances.
However, it does involve appreciable time investment in trap placement, and the investigator must check the trap at fairly frequent intervals (24-48 hours) to assure the lf r f n tr pp d n l W ht t d t r n h th r tr pp n r v l/pr b r h n t t t d th t ff t v d t t n th d t t p d b ll b t rtl p p l t n
5.3.1 Statistical Methods
h h rl r t rn n h nd r h ff rt b d n th n b r f t rtl
pt r d b h nd t r h S t "A" nd th r rd d t xp nd d n t v r h f r t rtl pr v l d r b d nv t d b th nv t t r t nd n tr p n t l d d r n th t d r p r bl r f nv t t r ff rt xp nd d n tr pp n t t d th t r r nt f tr pp n 1 5 h r t t p tr n f tr p f ll d b 5-h r h h h r nt l th tr p r r v d On h r
ll d f r r v l A f r h nd r h th ld p t d th n b r f t rtl pt r d n l nd r nth p r h r f nv t t r ff rt
f r n rp r t d nt th n l f pt r t hn h l nd r
r d v d d nt t - nth t r n rd r t h v t t t ll f l pl
z th n h t t r - A O A p rf r d n t rtl ld d t t
x n th ff t f t p r d nd pt r t hn
5.3.2 Results
t n t rtl b h nd d ff lt l r h h r p r t rtl pt r d
v r d p r r r f ll 3 (1993 ; 5 (199 ; 39 9 (1995 ; 13 (199 ; 3 75
(1997 ; n t rtl r pt r d b h nd n 199 h v r t rtl d t t n r t p r h r f v l r h 3 t rtl /h r
Eff t f b th b nthl t r ( = nd pt r t hn ( 1
r h hl n f nt nd tr pp n pr v d t b th r ff t v n f pt r n t rtl In th M - n t p r d th v r ld f tr pp n 59 t rtl /h r f
nv t t r ff rt h l th h nd pt r r t t rtl /h r
5 f Y r
pl th th Cl n W t r A t d v l p r r r r d t bt n p r t b f r th r ll d t f ll t r l n tl nd A r lt r r h r r
t ll d p n t t f r th pr n f b t rtl n tl nd I h v r v d h r t n n r nd th r nth th t r n l n ppr pr t f r d t r n n th pr n f r pt l n n t S t h ll f d d t rtl r pt
h ll n b f nd nf r n tl nd b t rtl t v r t th t ld n v d n f t rtl d r n p r d f l t v t t l b r x n d t
pt t h r h v b n n b r f p p r th t ddr th n l t v t p tt rn f b t rtl (Ch t 19 9; v h t 199 ; Ern t t 199 ; C rt r
1997 b t n t th t d r d n n p r t v l l r p p l t n n v l r h C rt r (1997 b d n v l nd r -r pt r t hn n l d d th t b t rtl r n t v n l t r W ht t d t r n h th r pr n n d n l p tt rn r pr nt n th d t t b l t b tr pp n f th ll p p l t n t r h S t "A"
5.4.1 Statistical Methods
In rd r t h v t t t ll f l pl z th n h t p r d
x n d th l nd r r d v d d nt t - nth t r h 3 nth n
h h tr pp n tt pt d r n d fr Apr l t O t b r f r h t r
(M r h-Apr l M - n l -A S pt -O t r x n d r h nth tr pp n nd x l l t d th t t l n b r f t rtl tr pp d th t nth d v d d b th t t l h r f tr pp n ff rt r pp n ff rt d f n d th n b r f
tr p d lt pl d b th n b r f h r tr p r n pl r t n n tr pp n
nd x x n d th Kr l-W ll t t n th nthl t r
b v A lt pl p r n pr d r d t p r tr pp n v l n th f r b nthl t r t f l nf d n l v l f lph = 5
5.4.2 Results
A r t r p r nt f t rtl r pt r d p r tr p h r n M nd n th n
n th r nth ( r 13 nd th Kr l-W ll t t nd t d th t th n l
v r t n n f nt ( =
r pp n n f ntl r t r n th b nthl t p r d f M -
n (5 x1 t rtl /tr p h r th n n th M r h-Apr l t p r d ( 9 x 1 t rtl /tr p h r r th l -A t p r d (1 x 1 - t rtl /tr p h r r pp n d d n t
d ff r n f ntl b t n th l -A t nd S pt b r-O t b r ( 15 x 1 t rtl /tr p h r t p r d
. p l t n S z nd r pp n S
5.5.1 Methods
r pp n r lt fr r h S t "A" r p r d th l r d t
n r t d fr h h l t t l l t d n th d nt pr v n f rth C r l n
h C p r n S t "C" pr ntl h p p l t n f r d t rtl nd n d r d th l r t nd t v bl b t rtl p p l t n n th d nt f rth C r l n nd th th rd l r t nd v d l p p l t n n th t t ( r n 1995 rtl r tr pp d n th
C p r n S t "C" v r v r l nth n d n th tr pp n f r th pr nt t d
(Gr n 1993 199 ; h rp 1995 t fr th t t d r d t
p r th r l t v d ff lt f tr pp n t rtl t t th ll ( 1 p p l t n v r t th l r r ( = + p p l t n t p bl nt r- r v r t n n t rtl t v t nl p r d f lt n t d r p r d r pp n rr d n b th t lt n l d r n f r nth ( n 1993 M 199 n 199 M
1995 A M nn-Wh tn U t t d t p r tr pp n xpr d t rtl /tr p h r r th t t
. .2 lt
r pp n ff rt p r t rtl pt r t r h S t "A" f r th p r d f v rl p
v r d 7 h r p r t rtl tr pp d pp d t n v r f 17 3 h r p r t rtl tr pp d t th C p r n S t "C" ( r 1 Av r tr pp n f r th
nth n d r d r th n n rd r f n t d l r t r h S t "A" (3 5 x 1 t rtl /tr p h r th n t C p r n S t "C" ( 3 x t rtl /tr p h r
p t th ll pl z ( nth f t d v rl p th nt r- t d ff r n
t t t ll n f nt ( = 1 h r r thr nth n d r d n r 1 ; n
199 tt d b n t rtl r ht t r h S t "A" d r n th t nth
.6 l bl t t n f S ll p l t n
At r h S t "A" t rtl r n t pt r d d r n v r nth f t v r
t th t Of th 3 nth n h h tr pp n (th t f l d t t n th d
nd t d n t rtl r ht d r n In v f v r nt f b t rtl p p l t n b n v rl d d p t n nt r h n nd th 35 f l r r t t
r h S t "A" d t r n d th l v l f ff rt r r d t r l bl d t t n f th
1 n l n n t b pr nt
5.6.1 Statistical Methods
f th pr v l t bl h d n f nt d ff r n b t n M - n
r h ff rt nd ff rt xp nd d thr h t th r t f th r th d t r d v d d n th b W n d r d nl tr pp n d t d t th h r t r ff t v n f tr pp n n f t rtl pt r t th t W d l d th t t l n b r f t rtl tr pp d n nth f n t n f th h r f tr p pr n t th t d r n th nth
h t r r n r nv lv d n f r M - n d t nd nd f r ll th r
nth f th r Inv r pr d t n ( tt r t t 19 5 d t t bl h 95
nf d n nt rv l f r th tr pp n h r r r d t pt r n l t rtl
pt r n n f th t rtl pr nt ld ff t t bl h th pr n f th p p l t n th pp r b nd f th nf d n nt rv l n b n d r d l v l f ff rt
t h h d t t n f th p p l t n 95 pr b bl
5.6.2 Results
In M - n ld n d t nv t 91 tr p h r f ff rt t h v 95 l l h d f d t t n t l t 1 f th 1 t rtl n n t b n th 1-h t r t
v l nt t ppr x t l 19 d f nt n tr pp n th tr p In Apr l r n l t r/f ll ( l -O t b r th d t t n pr b b l t ld d nd
ppr x t l 15 7 3 h r f tr p ff rt r ppr x t l 33 nt n d f tr pp n
th tr p
5 7 C n l n nd n
S rv r b n nd t d thr h t th r n f th b t rtl t t f p r t r r nt f r d v l p r nd tr n p rt t n ff l b f r f ll n ll d h rv r ll nd t d b n v l r h t hn th t nv lv l n thr h th tl nd nd p ll n b v t t n pr b n th t nd r p n
t rtl r d ff lt t f nd v n f r xp r n d r r h r rtl n ll p p l t n pr nt v n r d ff lt h t d t th t ll p p l t n f t rtl n p t nt l t l nd t t d n nl v l r h S r h ff rt
n n M r l nd rv (S th 199 v r d n t ( h r n t h r t rtl r n t f nd pp d t 1 n t (1 7 h r n t h r t rtl r f nd If nl n l t rtl h d b n f nd t h p d t th r t ld b xpr d t rtl p r h r f r h b t nt ll h h r ld th n
b rv d f r v l r h t th r h S t "A" ( t rtl p r h r t fr
v h t l (199 r fl t n v r f 7 t rtl p r h r f r h (M r- n
h h h r ld th n th r h S t "A" h tr n v d n th t t th ll p p l t n n b l v rl d S h v r ht n h v d tr r lt f t
r h d l d f r d v l p nt lt f th t d nd t th t tr p h ld b d t
t f v l r h f l t pr d b t rtl r n f b t rtl
v l p r ll n r r h r t x n t f r t rtl t n t f th
r In nt r nth t nl p bl t d t r n th t t nt n t rtl f b n
h ll ( r p nd/ r pl tr n f nd (E h ll r t f nd b t r n t
n l v v d n f b t rtl E rl r t d r p rt th t th pt l t f r f nd n t rtl b v l r h n n th pr n ( v h t l 199 ; Ern t t l 199 ; C rt r
1997 W f nd th l tr f r tr pp n
v r f n b t rtl ff t t bl h t b t rtl h b t t b t d t r n n th l v l f ff rt n r t n l d th pr b bl b n f th p more challenging. A minimum of 9,000 trap hours per hectare of trapping effort in May
and June is needed to reliably detect a population of the size reported in this study (N
10). Since this effort level is roughly equivalent to setting 20 traps for 20 days in May and
June, this can be called the "20-20 Rule."
Matrix 2 of Klemens "Standardized Bog Turtle Site-quality Analysis" assigns the
lowest rank (1) to populations of up to 5 turtles (Klemens 1993). Populations with 6-10 individuals are assigned a rank of 2 on the scale of 1-5, and, depending on many factors
(mentioned above), are of a size that may warrant consideration for conservation or site
enhancement. It is probable that detecting populations with 6 individuals will require
much more than a 20-20 effort, but finding these populations is still worthwhile. Traps
should be concentrated in the region of best habitat (see Chapter 4). 6. Recommendations
6.1 For Research Site "A"
The Research Site "A" is a small, degraded wetland in the piedmont of North
Carolina with a population of bog turtles so reduced that it will not likely survive long into the future unless action is taken to increase their numbers. The factors limiting population size appear to be the restricted area of favored vegetation type within the site and overgrazing by cattle. Site enhancement efforts controlling (but not eliminating) access by cattle appears to be beneficial. Additional enhancement efforts are planned which will increase the size of the wetland in order to offset the effects of drainage.
The site seems ideal for a population augmentation experiment (Sec 3.6). Such experiments are desperately needed to expand our knowledge and our arsenal of tools to fight extinction.
6.2 r t r n n th O rr n f rtl n t nt l S t
Our results suggest, when slated for development, small patches of marginal habitat should be considered bog turtle absentia only after a minimum of 9,000 trap-hours per hectare of trapping effort are invested in May and June. Since this is roughly equivalent to setting 20 traps for 20 days, it can be called the "20-20 Rule." Traps should be concentrated in regions of best habitat. Trapping in sites with fewer than 10 turtles per hectare or at other times of the year will require much more effort. 7. rth r St d l nn d
r pp n ll nt n n 1999 It nl l th t th r r dd t n l n pt r d l r j v n l r d lt t rtl r d n n th p n p t h Un pt r d t rtl f ll
l r d n th h f ld p t h nd p rh p v n n th l d p t h S n th
l d p t h n t f n d r n bl t tr p th r t pr nt v r "bl tz" tr pp n ff rt h d l d f r th h f ld p t h n th pr n f 1999 W pl n t
t r t th t r th 5 + tr p f r t l t n rd r t tr nd r pt r t rtl 3
nd l rn f th r t rtl th t nh b t th r
rb t n th dr n ll l b tr pp d W pl n t tr p r h
S t "A" nd r h S t " " f p r n r nt d b th l nd n r
Add t n l f n n pl nn d f r th l d p t h t r t r C t d
n IC 1993 A rv f th b t rtl (Clemmys muhlenbergii) h b t t n th p d nt f rth C r l n Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. (11 -
hl r 1997 r bl d t f r t rtl In: J.V. Abb ( d Proceedings: Conservation, Restoration, and Management of Tortoises and Turtles — An International Conference. SU Y r h Y
lz r 199 S b x t rtl n rv t n Box Turtle Research and Conservation Newsletter br r 199
nn ll M nd K S l nd r 197 El ph nt l G n t v r t n nd n r xt n t n Science 1 9 -9 9
r n nd A K dr - r n 1977 rn v r r t n n l r b r ph ff t f r t n n xt n t n Ecology 5 5- 9
hl nn KA M G ll n S M bl nd C M t h ll 1997 ppr h f r th n rv t n f b t rtl Clemmys muhlenbergii, n r n In: Abb ( d Proceedings: Conservation, Restoration, and Management of Tortoises and Turtles — An International Conference. SU Y r h Y
C l 1939 A t f r n t rtl f r f t r d nt f t n Copeia 1939 17 -173
C rt r S 1997 M v nt h r n nd h b t t pr f r n nt f th b t rtl (Clemmys muhlenbergii) n th t rn r n Unp bl M S th I nd St t Un v r t l b r A 97 pp
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S r A 199 End n r d Sp r t p rt Unp bl r p rt b tt d t th rth C r l n W ldl f r C n
S r A 1997 End n r d Sp r t p rt Unp bl r p rt b tt d t th rth C r l n W ldl f r C n
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S l M E 19 7 Wh r d fr h r ? In: M E S l ( d Viable Populations for Conservation. C br d Un v r t r C br d
St rf r A 199 p l t n l nd rp t l l C n rv t n A C t n r t A ph b n nd pt l C n rv t n 1 (1 - 3
h rp 1993 St t p rt n th 1993 S rv f th b t rtl Clemmys muhlenbergii, n th t rn p d nt Unp bl r p rt b tt d t C W ldl f r C n
h rp 199 St t p rt n th 199 S rv f th b t rtl Clemmys muhlenbergii, n th t rn p d nt Unp bl r p rt b tt d t C W ldl f r C n
h rp 1995 h b t rtl Clemmys muhlenbergii, n th t rn p d nt Unp bl r p rt b tt d t C W ldl f r C n
h rp 199 St t p rt n th 199 S rv f th b t rtl Clemmys muhlenbergii. Unp bl r p rt b tt d t th rth C r l n W ldl f r C n
h rp 1997 r j t b t rtl St t p rt n th 1997 rv f th b t rtl Clemmys muhlenbergii. Unp bl r p rt b tt d t C W ldl f r C n
h rp 199 St t p rt n th 199 S rv f th b t rtl Clemmys muhlenbergii. Unp bl r p rt b tt d t th rth C r l n W ldl f r C n
US h nd W ldl f S rv 1997 l r l t l t th n rth rn p p l t n f th b t rtl thr t n d nd th th rn p p l t n thr t n d d t l r t f pp r n Federal Register ( 13 59 5-59 3 pp l rt 1975 h t t f th b t rtl Clemmys muhlenbergii, n rth C r l n t n l A d b n S p rt pp
G 1991 Age Determination in Turtles. S t f th St d f A ph b n nd pt l rp t l l C r l r App nd x I
Arial Maps of Research Site "A"
1940
1951
1955
1966
1977
Appendix II
Landowner Packet
d tr b t d b
Project Bog Turtle End n r d Sp nd d nt rth C r l n nd n r K nn th A r dl h A 15 199
A S r f th d r l End n r d Sp A t
An nd r t nd n f nd n r d p nd th l d n d t pr t t th r p rt nt f r th pr p r f n t n n f n l nd n rv n r pl nt nd n l p r n r r n nd t rd h p f th r r p rt f r n W l tr v t r th pr v t l nd n r t h v th n v r n f r ft n pr v nt th p bl fr r n th n rv t n r n z t n h n rn f l nd n r th t f th x t n f n nd n r d p d v r d n th r l nd r tr t n nd l nd- l t t n ll b p d h b l f l r l b d n l f n l d nd nd r t nd n f th l nd nt rpr t t n f t r rd Al n th rr nt l t f p l t l nfr nt t n th f nd n r d p pr t t n rh t r ll h r d d b t ft n th l ttl r rd f r th tr th h f ll n d r v d fr th r l v nt d r l nd rth C r l n l r rd n nd n r d p nd t t d br f r f th t n th t t d r tl p t l nd n r nd pr v t l nd h End n r d Sp A t f 1973 (ESA r th A t nd d rv th b f r th d r l pr r nd th d l f r t t t pr r n l d n rth C r l n In th f r t p r r ph f th A t C n r r n z d th v l f nd n r d p b t t n th t nd n r d p f f h ldl f nd pl nt r f th t l r r t n d t n l h t r l nd nt f v l t th n t n nd t p pl h v l n l d r l d t nv r n nt l h lth nd l t nd t r nd d t n l nd r r t n l p bl nt r t h A t t p h n f r pl n p n th t f End n r d nd hr t n d W ldl f nd l nt It l d f n t f th ppr pr t t r n n n- b (f r x pl - endangered species is t x n h h n d n r f xt n t n thr h t ll r n f nt p rt n f t n t r l r n t n p pr v d th d f tr n nd pl nn n f r h p r v r E h l t n nv lv n l v l f r v b th p bl v rn nt n nd th nt f n t h A t p r th U S h nd W ldl f S rv nd t n l M r n h r S rv t n p r t nd nf r nt pl nt r v r pl n r nd r r h n t r nd n r d p p p l t n nd p r t th th r p bl nd pr v t nt t t n rv l t d p h l t n r r v r t p nt h r th p n l n r n d pr t t n nd r th A t An p rt nt nd ft n v rl d pr v n f th A t r r th S r t r f Int r r t n d r n nd th r t n th pr t t n pl n f r h p h n d n t n r t l h b t t h pr v n pr t b l n b t n t nd b n f t f th r l t r t n h j d nt r ntl d t x l d fr pr t t n 3 ll n f 9 ll n r f p tt d l r t l h b t t n n ff rt t l n th p t n th l n nd tr
W th r rd t l t d n l th A t t t t ll l t En n nt r t t r f r n tr d th t p r t n l t d p ( - h r h r p r h nt ll tr p ll ll t n nd n r d r thr t n d p W th r rd t pl nt th l th t t ll l t En n nt r t t r f r n tr d th t p r t v nd r d t p n h pl nt fr f d r l l nd M l l d r d tr n h p n f d r l l nd v t d p d r d tr n nd n r d pl nt n n n l nd n n n v l t n f th l n l d n tr p
h x p n lt 55 nd/ r 1 r n pr n In dd t n th A t r r f d r l n t d v l p pr r t n rv l t d p nd pr h b t th fr rr n t n t n th t ld j p rd z th nt n d x t n f l t d p r dv r l d f r t l h b t t h A t l pr t t p fr th p t nt ll h r f l t n f pr v t l nd n r v r th A t ff r v r l fl x bl t l f r r lv n nfl t b t n pr v t l nd n r nd nd n r d p r x pl pr v t l nd n r n l f ll t l t d p f t n d nt l t nd n t th p rp f rr n t th r l f l t v t nd th l nd n r pl nt n rv t n pl n f r th p I pl nt t n f th A t d n d t f t r r t v p rtn r h p b t n th pr v t t r nd v rn nt n n th nt r t f nd n r d p n rv t n r 1979-199 th r r 1 d r l pr j t r v d f r p t n nd n r d p f th l th n 1 r f nd t n f ntl p t n nd n r d p v r ll v n th h p rt l r pr j t h v d l l d tr t n f p p l t n nd nl 3 ( 3 f th d v l p nt pr j t r t pp d r lt f th ESA r fr b n n n pr n tr tj t th t t pp n nt p rtr th ESA r pl t th r r nt t b l n th n d f nd n r d p n rv t n th pr v t pr p rt n r nd d v l p r r v t d v l p r n bt n f d r l p r t t l ll h r r v n ll nd n r d p n th r pr p rt pr v d d th h th t th tr d t n z th r p t n th p n th r A n lt t b l n n f nd n r d p nd n th r x t th End n r d Sp C tt h h th r z d t x pt t v t fr th ESA h n th b n f t f th pr j t l rl t h th n rv t n f p v n th h th ll r lt n th pl t xt n t n f p t th th r fl x b l t n th ESA nl thr h v v r b f r th tt h nd rl n r l t th t r r p l th r r r bj t r v l d b f th r r r t M t f th p pl pr t d nd r th End n r d Sp A t r ldl f tr ff r h ll ll nd n n l ll t r r ldl f nd pl nt t ll f r p r n l pr f t h x t n f n nd n r d p n pr v t pr p rt l ll h n ff t nl th l nd n r ( r n l pl nn n pr j t th t r r f d r l p r t r f d r l f nd r th t ll l rl r lt n th ll l t n f l t d p Ev n h r pr v t l nd n r pr p rt d n t d r t l h b t t f r n nd n r d p private landowners are not regulated by the ESA, only Federal actions that would adversely alter critical habitat. At th pr nt t nl thr f h nd n pl nt h v d n t n f r t l h b t t n rth C r l n n n r n th r rv d b th d nt nd C n rv n C rr ntl th r r 5 f d r ll l t d pl nt n r r nd n l
d r ll End n r d r hr t n d l nt n r r
S ll- nth r d tt r r Cardamine micranthra S th C n fl r Echinacea laevigata S h n tz S nfl r Helianthus schweinitzii S ll Wh rl d n Isotria medeoloides Wh t Ir tt Sisyrinchium dichotomum
d r ll End n r d r hr t n d An l n r r
E t rn C r Fells concolor cougar (pr b bl n l n r n th r n K rtl nd W rbl r Dendroica kirtlandii ( n l r nt thr h th r ld E l Haliaeetus leucocephalus d- d d W dp r Picoides borealis h n rbl r Vermivora bachmanii (l t n n th rl 19 p bl xt n t C p r Sh n r Notropis mekistocholas r r n l t Falco peregrinus ( n l r nt thr h t n r S r f rth C r l n End n r d Sp
Aft r th t bl h nt f th ESA n t t d v l p d th r n nd n r d p l t d l th f l l r r n l r r t th t r n t r l t d b th n t n l l rth C r l n h r h d v r t f b l n h b t t r n n fr th nt n t th h t t h t r n th t r n h r l nd th r r n h r r t t nl p rt f l r r r n It th p l f r r t th t r v r d b th rth C r l n nd n r d p l
An l : U n th f d r l End n r d Sp A t d l rth C r l n n t d G n r l St t t 113-331 t 113-337 ff t v 19 7 h h th r z th W ldl f r C n t d v l p t t n t r nd pr t t r r n l p n th t t h C n n nd t d t nd rt r r n l p l t n nd d n t n f r t l h b t t p n r nd t n f th n W ldl f Adv r C tt h C n th n rd n t th d v l p nt nd pl nt t n f n nt pl n f r l t d p Ch pt r 39 (11 3 1995 f rth C r l n l t n nd d th C n nd t t t nt n d r t n d r r n f n rv t n pr t t n nd n nt r th t b ppl d t th p nd h b t t C t f pr t t n n p t nd r n bl v l bl pt n f r n z n t nd dv r p t t b n d r d n h pl n M t p rt ntl t l nd n r "n r l b d pt d th t r tr t r d v l p nt f pr v t pr p rt . h pr t t n f nd n r d n l n th t t nt ll l r t th f d r l ESA n th t t t r t d t ll l tr ff n n r r n l nd pr d t nd pr t t n f n t v p p l t n fr p h n nd n r n d l t n th n th nt th t t l t d r r p n th r pr p rt x pt p ll r ll th th t p r t
l nt : h l nt r t t n nd C n rv t n A t (Ch pt r 1 Art l 19 ; 1 - ; f th G n r l St t t f rth C r l n th r z th rth C r l n p rt nt f A r lt r t n t r nd pr t t r r pl nt p n th t t h l t n f pl nt d n b th C n r f A r lt r t th r nd t n f th rth C r l n l nt C n rv t n rd Up n l t n th A r lt r p rt nt r r d t r th th r t t n t n t r nd d v l p n nt pl n f r h l t d p C rr ntl th t r l r t r r ( v n f Env r n nt lth nd t r l r nt n th d t b h h tr r r pl nt p p l t n nd th A r lt r p rt nt nt n l nt r t t n Off f r th p rp f n nt nd l l pr t t n f n t v pl nt p n p r l h l nt r t t n Off l p r t r rd n ll t n pr p t n nd tr d f r r pl nt f r l t n t bl n n th f d r l ESA th l pr r l d t pr t t n r r pl nt fr th t n f ll l tr ff r h ll t th pl nt f r pr f t nd t n z th p t f t t d v l p nt pr j t n r r pl nt p p l t n In th t n tl n n th " nl f l t " p f l n n l d d t pr t t pr v t pr p rt n r It t t th t th n d nt l d t rb n f pr t t d pl nt d r n r lt r l, f r tr r d v l p nt p r t n n t ll l l n th pl nt r n t ll t d f r l r r l . r n th b tt l n th t pr v t pr p rt n r n d h t v r th nt th th n t v r r pl nt n th r l nd x pt ll th th t p r t
h pr p r t n f th d nt d p bl th h lp nd dv fr th f ll n
M rj r W r rth C r l n p rt nt f A r lt r l nt Ind tr v n l h C r A M rd U S h nd W ldl f S rv E l l S rv ld Off A h v ll C nd ll C W l n rth C r l n W ldl f r C n v n f W ldl f M n nt l h C S , I h v b t rtl ...
Q: Wh t r b t rtl A: t rtl r n f th ll t t rtl n th rld h nh b t tl nd n t rn rth A r t rtl h v bl t h n l r d h ll nd d t n t v r n t ll p t n th d f th r h d h v r d lt l n th 3 - 3 5 n h h tl nd th nh b t r ll ll d nd h v ft d t rtl r v r r t v h r r l b n f ll v l th r t rtl h p nd t f th r t n th d t th p rt f th r h ll t n t t ll t h t fr th n
Q: Wh r th p l A: h n b r f b t rtl h d r d n f ntl h tl d t h b t t l nd ll t n f r th p t tr d f th d r n p p l t n b t rtl r rr ntl l t d thr t n d r nd n r d n ll t t th nh b t t n thr t n d r nd n r d p ll t n f th t rtl ll l
Q: Wh d p pl nt t t d th A: On n p rp n t d n b t rtl t th r nf r t n t t n th r r v r th n b r v d fr th l t n In rd r t pl h th n d t n r b t th t rtl S nt t t d th t rtl t l rn b t th r l f l r t n nd h b t t h W th th nf r t n n d t r n th b t t n b t rtl t th t th t rtl fl r h
Q: Wh t d t n t h v b t rtl n pr p rt A: v n b t rtl n r pr p rt v r p l r f p pl ll v r t t b t rtl th r th n n pt v t Y h v th pp rt n t t h lp pr rv thr t n d p It d n t n th t r pr p rt n b t n fr
Q: C n n n n pr p rt A: t r pr p rt h f r pr p rt t th r r d n
Q: C n I t ll pr p rt A: Y v n b t rtl d n t ff t r r ht t th pr p rt In b t rtl nh b t tl nd n ttl p t r r h f ld C rr nt t d r tr n t d t r n f ttl r z n h b n f l ff t f r b t rtl It b l v d th t n l r z n nt n th p n d r th t th t rtl pr f r
Q: Wh t f I nt t dr n tl nd A: f r n d r dr n n r tl nd h t r ld n t v l t n t t r f d r l l r r l n US A b n f t M t f th tl nd th t b t rtl nh b t r ll h th xp n f dr n n th r ld f r t h th f n n l b n f t f h v n b t r p t r r f ld
Q: Wh t r th b n f t f pr t t n b t rtl A: h r r n b n f t t pr t t n b t rtl r t t n b t rtl h lp p th fr n xt n t Ext n t n n r l pr b t th rr nt r t f xt n t n nn t r ll h h h t n f xt n t n h b t t l -- n th r rd h n h v d th nfl t d xt n t n r t Sl n th r t f xt n t n p rt nt b v r p pl p rt n n t r E h p th t l t ff t th n t r l t Al t pr t t b t rtl t pr t t th tl nd th nh b t W tl nd p rf r n f n t n th t h v v l t h n n l d n ldl f h b t t fl d ntr l nd f lt r n f p ll t nt nd d nt n th t r
Q: n I pr t t b t rtl A h r r n d ff r nt t pr t t b t rtl pr t t th b t rtl t pr t t th r h b t t - b h r r pr rv t n pr r d n d f r th p rp f ldl f nd tl nd pr t t n nd r t r t n th t n ff r t hn l t n Al n rv n nd l nd tr t ff r n pr rv t n pt n th f n n l b n f t 1. What is a Meadow Bog? The term meadow bog is used to describe a mountain or piedmont wetland that has been altered by human use. Meadow bogs frequently occur on agricultural land, primarily in cattle pastures or hay fields. They are swampy or wet areas vegetated with sedges and shrubs. Although they may appear to be wastelands, meadow bogs are true wonderlands performing important functions which provide valuable benefits to humans. 2. What are their Values? • Flooding and Water Quality Meadow bogs are vital to the local water conditions. Meadow bogs can reduce flooding by holding excess water during storms. As a result, a bog recharges groundwater and reduces erosion and sedimentation. Groundwater recharge is an important process in maintaining the quality and quantity of well water. Erosion and sedimentation is reduced because meadow bogs decrease the velocity and amount of surface water flow, in turn reducing the amount of sediment that reaches streams and rivers. Additionally, they can act as sinks or filters of excess nutrients, pesticides and other pollutants. As a result, our streams and rivers stay cleaner and clearer. • Habitat for Wildlife When wetlands are altered, the composition of the animal and plant communities is changed. Many rare or unusual species inhabited wetlands that have since become meadow bogs. Some of these species include Gray's lilies, sundews, orchids, four-toed salamander and bog turtles. Even in meadow bogs, these unusual species often still exist. Another remarkable feature of meadow bogs is that some contain plant species that are generally exclusive to Northern wetlands; for example, cranberry and cottongrass. In some cases, human impacts maintain habitat. Bog turtles prefer more open areas, vegetated by sedges and rushes. Seasonal grazing and occasional mowing maintain this type of habitat by impeding the growth of trees and shrubs. Other more common but still important species inhabit meadow bogs. Numerous frogs and salamanders live in meadow bogs. Game wildlife such as white-tailed deer, wood ducks, snipe and woodcock also inhabit meadow bogs. Bogs also provide a food source in the winter when food is scarce. Furthermore, because wetlands keep streams and rivers clean, they help to maintain habitat for sport fish„ such as trout. 3. Why Preserve Meadow Bogs? North Carolina has lost more than half of its wetlands. The loss of bogs in particular has been even greater, with a loss of 90% in North Carolina. When the wetlands disappear so do the values and benefits that we acquire from them. The effects of the decrease in wetlands has been seen all over the country, including increased flooding, increased water contamination and a decrease in waterfowl, migratory birds, fish and other species that use wetlands. Because of the huge losses that have already occurred it is even more important to preserve those wetlands remaining. 4. What are the Preservation Options? There are many different ways to preserve meadow bogs. All preservation options are completely voluntary and many occur while maintaining private ownership and use of the land. In addition to the benefits derived from preserving a quickly disappearing natural resource in North Carolina, some methods of preservation have financial benefit to landowners. A few of the programs that assist in preservation are the Wetlands Reserve Program, Partners for Wildlife and the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program's registry and dedication. These programs were developed to help landowners preserve their natural resources and do not involve transfer of land ownership. The programs may provide information about the important natural resources on the property, develop a conservation plan and offer financial help. Other preservation options occur with the assistance of a conservancy or local land trust. Conservancies and land trusts are non- governmental, non-profit organizations created to preserve and restore natural resources. The objective of each organization is different. Local land trusts concentrate on a certain area or particular resource, such as a river or lake. Some larger organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, are primarily concerned with large, pristine sites around the world. There are many different preservation options that occur through conservancies and land trusts. Some methods of preserving natural resources include management agreements, conservation easements, leases, sales and donations. With any of these options the conservancy or land trust is responsible for preserving the natural assets of the land. Conservation easements, leases, sales and donations provide financial benefits to the landowner.
For further information on meadow bogs and preservation options contact your local Natural Resource Conservation Service office, US Fish and Wildlife Service office, or .
Project Bog Turtle North Carolina State Museum of Natural Science PO Box 29555 Raleigh, N.C. 27626-0555 phone: 919-733-7450 ext. 70 fax 919-733-1573 Methods of Preservation of Wetlands
. W tl nd rv r r h W tl nd rv r r (W t bl h d t t f nn r th r t r t n nd pr t t n f tl nd h pr r r n ll r t d n th 199 d A r lt r C n rv t n nd r d A t nd h b n nd d n th 1995 r ll h W n l d r t r t n t- h r r nt th rt r r p rp t l n rv t n nt nd t- h r n f r r t r t n Al f r h tl nd n th pr r n nt pl n d v l p d b th t r l r C n rv t n S rv ( CS nd US h nd W ldl f S rv ( WS t d n th r r t r t n nd n nt C nt t: CS r WS 2. W ldl f b t t In nt v r r h 199 r ll r t d th pr r t h lp l nd n r pr v ldl f h b t t h pr r pr v d d n nd t- h r n f r r t r t n r d v l p nt f ldl f h b t t h pr r t ll n d v l p nt l t C nt t: CS . rtn r f r W ldl f rtn r f r W ldl f U S h nd W ldl f S rv ( WS pr r d v l p d t pr t t ldl f thr h r t r t n nd pr rv t n f h b t t S f th p n nt f th pr r r h b t t nd r t r t n n nt t hn l t n h b t t pr t t n pr r nd d t n nd tr h t r t n t b v r d r h r d th th l nd n r C nt t: WS 4. rth C r l n t r l r t r r h rth C r l n t r l r t r r ( C d n t r d b th v n f r nd r t n p rt nt f Env r n nt lth nd t r l r h ff r t f r f pr t t n f r n t r l r r tr nd d d t n tr f pr p rt th th t r l r t r r v l nt r n n-b nd n r nt th t n l d th t th l nd n r nt nd t pr t t th t nd p bl n th pr p rt t nt n t n t r l t d t n p r n nt f r f pr t t n l r t n rv t n nt C nt t: 5 C n rv n nd nd r t C n rv n nd l nd tr t r n npr f t r n z t n r t d t pr rv nd r t r n t r l r r h p f h r n z t n v r n l l nd tr t f n l l r r p f r r f r x pl r v r r l S l r r r n z t n h h t r C n rv n r nt r t d n x pt n l r r r nd th rld h r r n d ff r nt pr rv t n th d th t nv lv n rv n nd l nd tr t In dd t n t th b n f t f pr t t n n t r l r r f th pt n n h v f n n l b n f t ll n r br f d r pt n f f pt n • Management Agreements M n nt r nt r d b t n th l nd n r nd n rv t n r n z t n h r nt r t p r r nd h d n d t f t th p rt l r d r f th l nd n r M n nt r nt nv lv th d v l p nt f n rv t n pl n h h pl nt d b th n rv t n r n z t n r th l nd n r • Conservation Easements C n rv t n nt r v l nt r l l rr n nt h h p f th t th pr p rt n t n n nl b d n th t pr rv t n t r l t h r ll n d b n rv t n r n z t n h nt t l r d t th d r f h l nd n r C n rv t n nt n h v n t x b n f t h n r d f d r l n t x t t t x ft t x t t nh r t n t x nd t l l pr p rt t x C n rv t n nt r ll p rp t l Alth h t p r r nt r p bl n t th t x b n f t nl ppl t p rp t l nt • Leases f pr p rt t n rv t n r n z t n r n d ff r nt fr n th r pr p rt l h r t p r r nd pr v d n t th l nd n r th t h n n n r h p h f th pr p rt b th n rv t n r n z t n p f d th n th l • Sales C n rv t n r n z t n n r ll h v l t d nt f f nd f r l nd t n f th f n n l n tr nt th ll p r h pr p rt t r d d pr h l nd n r r v n n t x r d t n b l n th d ff r n b t n th ll n pr nd th f r r t v l h r t bl d n t n S ll n t r d d pr l r d p t l n t x b r d n th nt t x d • Donations n t n pr p rt t n rv t n r n z t n th t ff t v th d f r d n t x h b n f t n l d f d r l n t x d d t n l t th f r r t v l f th l nd t t t x b n f t nd v d n f p t l n t x h rth C r l n C n rv t n x Cr d t r r l p r t d ll r f r d ll r t t n t x r d t nd n n t x r d t n f r l r r ft C nt t: A nd r t r C n rv n
ll n l t f r n z t n th t n pr v d r nf r t n b t tl nd pr t t n th d nd h lp th pr t t n d n
Land Trusts and Conservancies Stale and National Groups
The Conservation Fund The National Wildlife Federation S th t rn n l Off 1 1 S xt nth Str t W 31 1/ W r n l n St W h n t n C 3 Ch p l ll C 751 ( 7 7- (919 9 7- 3 M l n Addr The Nature Conservancy O x 37 rth C r l n Off Ch p l ll C 751 11 Un v r t r S t 1 rh C 77 7 Conservation Trust for North Carolina (919 3- 55 O x 33333 l h C 7 3 -3333 Trust for Public Land (919 - 199 Atl nt ld Off 1 7 htr Str t E National Audubon Society S t 1 95 h rd Av n Atl nt GA 3 3 9 Y r Y r 1 ( 577- 37 ( 1 3 -3
Regional
Catawba Lands Conservancy Pacolet Area Conservancy (7 375- 3 O x 31 1 17 E t l v rd C l b C 7 S t (7 9 -3 1 Ch rl tt C 3 Highlands Land Trust Piedmont Land Conservancy O x 17 3 x 5 hl nd C 7 1 Gr n b r C 7 - 5 (7 5 -3 9 (91 99- 51
National Committee for the New River Southern Appalachian Highlands O x 1 Conservancy Gl nd l Spr n C 9 3 W ll St S t (91 9 -9 9 A h v ll C 1 (7 53- 95 Natural Heritage Trust ofHenderson County O x Trust for Appalachian Trail Lands nd r nv ll C 793- O x 7 (7 97-95 7 rb r rr W t r n 5 5 (3 535- 331
Government Agencies Local Governments
S l nd W t r C n rv t n tr t
State Government
Division of Parks and Recreation Wildlife Resources Commission C p rt nt f Env r n nt lth C p rt nt f Env r n nt lth nd t r l r nd t r l r O x 7 7 51 S l b r Str t l h C 7 11 l h C 7 11 (919 733- 1 1 (919 733-3391
Natural Heritage Program E - v n f r nd r t n O x 7 7 l h C 7 11 (919 733-77 1
Federal Government
National Parks Service US Forest Service Un t d t t p rt nt f th Int r r Un t d St t p rt nt f A r lt r n l Off h rd ll ld n t n l r t n rth C r l n 75 Spr n Str t O x 75 Atl nt GA 3 3 3 A h v ll C
US Fish and Wildlife Service Un t d t t p rt nt f th Int r r n l Off h rd ll ld n 75 Spr n Str t Atl nt GA 3 3 3 Appendix III
Sample Lease Agreement:
An agreement between landowners nd Project Bog Turtle CONSERVATION AGREEMENT AND LEASE
This is a conservation easement and lease between (Landowner) and NORTH CAROLINA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY (Lessee).
WHEREAS, there lives on the property of Landowner a population of bog turtles, and the parties wish to enter into this Agreement for the purpose of protecting these turtles and the
special land on which they live.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises contained herein, the parties
agree as follows:
1. Term. This Agreement will be in force and effect for an initial period of
( ) years and may be extended for additional periods upon the agreement of the
parties.
2. The land over which this Agreement extends is located and described as
follows:
3. Payment. Lessee will pay to Landowner the sum of
Dollars ($ ) per year payable each
year in advance upon availability of funds.
4. Landowner will not willfully or knowingly use or permit others to use the land
in such a manner as will detrimentally affect the bog turtles that live there or their habitat.
The Landowner will not take or remove and will not grant permission to others to take or remove any bog turtles from the land. However, this section shall not prohibit the Lessee taking or removing bog turtles in furtherance of any conservation or recovery plan.
5. The Landowner hereby grants reasonable access to the land to Lessee, its members and others acting on its behalf for the purpose of studying and monitoring the bog turtles and for taking reasonable steps for their protection which are not inconsistent with the
Landowner's use of the property. The Lessee agrees to notify the Landowner before it or others acting on its behalf come onto the land pursuant to this Agreement if the Landowner so desires and requests such notification.
6. Any material breach of this Agreement due to the negligent or willful action of the Landowner which causes or threatens to cause injury or destruction to the bog turtles or their habitat shall entitle Lessee to recover from the Landowner part or all of any funds or material or equipment provided by Lessee to the Landowner pursuant to this Agreement.
7. Lessee agrees to hold the Landowner harmless for any personal injuries or death which occur to any of its members or others acting on its behalf which occur while on the premises.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement by their duly authorized representative.
Landowner
NORTH CAROLINA HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY, Lessee
By: Appendix IV
Locations of Turtles at Research Site "A" 1993-1998
App nd x
Plant Species List for Research Site "A"
provided by
Kenneth A. Bridle, Ph.D. PLANT SPECIES LIST r h S t "A" C pl x C p l d b K nn th A r dl Ph.
C n t p / t n H= f ld R= p r n ( l n r Op n n p r Cl d n p r