With its grassland habitat largely destroyed, does this threatened species have a future in the Prairie State? Conservation & Management of the Imperiled Ornate Box

Turtle Radio transmitters Story By Jeramie T. Strickland are helping and Ed Britton biologists under - Photos By Jeramie T. Strickland stand the population dynamics of the ornate or up to seven long box turtle. months each year, beneath the sandy soils in Illinois, population dynamics, habitat use and small populations of ornate home ranges in natural, disturbed and Army Depot, historically had a large box turtles brumate, the fragmented landscapes is critical. population of ornates, but decades of Fscientific term for reptile hibernation. In 2008, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Ser - military activity combined with over - Because these populations are small vice began a long-term research study grazing by cattle reduced the popula - and isolated, this imperiled species was in Carroll County to identify manage - tion to a few individuals. listed as an Illinois threatened species ment strategies needed for the conser - Two years of radio telemetry studies in 2009 (see sidebar). With 99 percent vation of ornate box turtles. have provided important information of Illinois’ original prairies destroyed, The study began with a small, isolat - on ornate ecology. the decline in ornate box turtle num - ed population of ornates at the 360-acre Nine turtles have been monitored bers is attributed to the loss of habitat. Thomson Sand Prairie within the Upper since May 2008, and 28 radioed turtles Ornate box turtles ( Terrapene orna - Mississippi River National studied during the 2009-2010 hiberna - ta ) are long-lived, slow reproducing Wildlife & Fish Refuge. In tion period—26 at Thomson and two at land turtles that have a solitary lifestyle. 2009, the study area Lost Mound. Historically, ornates ranged over larger expanded to include The Thomson turtles exhibit normal areas of Illinois, but today’s surviving the nearly 4,000-acre home ranges, averaging 7.5 acres with populations are separated—and sur - Lost Mound Sand ranges from 2.5 to nearly 62 acres. The rounded—by non-native and disturbed Prairie, and the Depart - Lost Mound turtles originated from habitats. To help guide conservation ment of Natural Resources other areas (located 7 and 21 miles and management efforts for this threat - joined as a project partner. away), were released together in May ened species, understanding Lost Mound, formerly Savanna May 2010 Outdoor Illinois / 17 he ornate box turtle was listed as T threatened in Illinois in October 2009 due to a noted decrease in statewide status and distribution. Prior to 1980, the species was known from 38 counties, and recent records docu - ment occurrences in only 15 counties. While habitat loss is considered the majority threat to the species, roads and unsustainable collection by turtle enthusiasts also present serious threats. Possession of ornate box turtles, or other animals on the Illinois list of endangered and threatened species, without permit from the DNR, is a vio - lation of the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act. Typically, viola - tions are a Class A misdemeanor, pun - ishable by a fine of up to $2,500 and/or USFWS employee Rhoni Hartsock in development of a habitat manage - up to 12 months in jail. Violations also attaches a radio transmitter to one ment program, such as scheduling the may be upgraded to a felony if the timing of prescribed burns and other activity exceeds certain limits. of the Illinois-threatened ornate activities to ensure that they do not box turtles. negatively impact the turtles or specific habitat features. most turtles had emerged. One adult 2009 and exhibit extended home In 2008, all radioed turtles were in female hibernated for seven months. ranges. The Lost Mound sub-adult male hibernation by October 26. In 2009, all An experimental Headstart Project initially travelled 2 miles north before were in hibernation by October 21; how - was implemented in 2009 to re-estab - returning near the release site, having a ever, several days of 60-70 degree tem - lish ornate box turtles at Lost Mound. summer home range of 360 acres. He peratures caused some turtles to emerge Headstarting is the process of raising then again travelled 2 miles north to during the first week of November. hatchlings in captivity until they are hibernate. The old male initially trav - Interestingly, many of the radioed tur - 10 months old, allowing them to obtain elled 1 mile south before returning near tles returned to almost the exact same a larger body size and advanced body the release site, having a summer home location to hibernate each year. Turtles development that decreases the range of 22 acres. He traveled 2 miles began to emerge from hibernation on chances of hatchling predation, a major south to hibernate. April 16, 2009 and within only a few days cause of mortality. Understanding ornate box turtle ) . o hibernation patterns plays a critical role o Z i b a i N r o t c e r i D

The four eggs obtained in 2009 o o Z t n a t

were successfully hatched at Niabi s i s s A , n

Zoo, one of the many organizations a y R r e f i

working to conserve and protect n n e J y b

this imperiled species. o t o h P (

18 / Outdoor Illinois May 2010 Information from the nine radioed It takes a community turtles has provided information t takes the skills and resources of a on the size of home ranges and community of partners to undertake I length of brumation (hibernation). a project of this magnitude. Fortunate - ly, the number and diversity of part - ners is increasing. first week of August, and the turtles G Iowa State University’s “Turtle were cared for at the zoo until their Camp” began studies at the Thomson Sand Prairie in the early 1990s and their release at Lost Mound in the spring of long-term population data has provided 2010. Radios affixed to these turtles for important information. Since 2007, a minimum of two years after release inner-city high school students from will provide valuable information. ISU’s “Turtle Camp” Ecology Program have assisted in ornate field work. The project will greatly expand in G DNR is expanding their role to 2010 by a number of factors: actively monitor two sand prairies. I The number of sites to be monitored G Niabi Zoo is providing animal care will increase from two to seven, includ - for the Headstart Program. ing five federal and two state-owned G The Illinois Natural History Survey’s Lost Mound Corps of Discovery partici - sand prairies in northwest Illinois. pants have provided hundreds of vol - I A population viability model and unteer hours searching for ornates other analyses will be performed to with hand-held radio receivers. determine the long-term viability of tur - G The U.S. Army’s Construction Engi - neering Research Laboratory in Cham - tles at each site. paign has provided 10 Automatic I The number of radioed turtles will

Receiving Units to enhance the radio ) increase from 28 to 60. . c i v

telemetry study. o I s Telemetry equipment will be upgrad - a

G In 2008, the West Carroll Intermedi - m o T

ed from hand-held receivers to Automat - c i

ate School in Thomson began partici - r E y

pating in a USFWS Nature of Learning ic Receiving Units, providing continu - b o t o

program and adopted a 4th grade edu - ous monitoring capabilities. h P ( cation curriculum on the prairies of I Field searches for ornates will northwest Illinois. G Further expansion of the project become more efficient by using the turtle as one of the species in greatest may involve private landowners in the “Tennessee Turtledogs,” six specially need of conservation. This project may vicinity of the populations. trained Boykin spaniels that have provide important information for worked on research and urban develop - recovering the species, and assessing ment projects in the southeast and mid- the feasibility of re-establishing a viable Four eggs were obtained from a Atlantic states locating box turtles. population of ornates at the Lost Mound gravid female at the Thomson Prairie on In addition to being recently listed as Sand Prairie—the largest remnant sand June 8 and taken to the Niabi Zoo in threatened in Illinois, the Illinois prairie in Illinois that also may be ideal Coal Valley. All four eggs hatched the Wildlife Action Plan lists the ornate box habitat for repatriating this species. Understanding the population dynam - ) . k c ics and habitat utilization of ornate box o s t r a

H turtles in northwest Illinois, and identify - i n o h ing appropriate prairie management R y b

o techniques, will serve to conserve and t o h P ( protect this imperiled species.

Jeramie Strickland is a wildlife biologist and Ed Britton is a district manager with the USFWS at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

Jeramie Strickland monitors the location of an ornate box turtle as part of the radio telemetry study.

May 2010 Outdoor Illinois / 19