34 DECEMBER 2018 • SURVIVAL FEATURE

An adult male Gopher at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, St. Petersburg, Florida. The burrow system of this imperiled, keystone species provides refugia for over 365 other species within their six-state range in the southeastern United States. PHOTO CREDIT: GEORGE L. HEINRICH The Big Turtle Year: Celebrating Wild Across the United States

George L. Heinrich and Timothy J. Walsh

Just three hours earlier, neither of us had ever (FTCT). This non-profit NGO began in 1999 and Madagascar often receive the majority seen a wild ( muhlen- and works to conserve Florida’s rich turtle of conservation attention, the plight of U.S. bergii), the smallest and one of the most diversity through research and education. species goes quietly unnoticed. The goal of imperiled turtle species in the United States Throughout 2017, we were joined by other FTCT’s first conservation education project (U.S.). On this morning, we found eight of biologists and conservationists at dozens outside of the state of Florida was to increase these little jewels which are threatened by of sites within the U.S. in an effort to see awareness regarding the status of these often habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive non- as many species as possible during a single overlooked, ecologically significant , native plant species, and poaching for the pet year, while examining threats and conserva- and emphasize the rich diversity, ecology, trade. We joined New Jersey Division of tion actions that may be needed. and conservation needs of species found and Wildlife staff and volunteers to survey in the most turtle-rich country in the world parcels of private land in the northern section Turtles are among the most endangered (now 62 species and 89 terminal taxa). of the state as part of The Big Turtle Year wildlife on Earth (59% of all species are (TBTY), a conservation education initia- threatened with extinction). While species We like seeing wild turtles in wild places, and tive of the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust from areas such as Asia, South America, TBTY provided an opportunity to explore

58 DECEMBER 2018 • TURTLE SURVIVAL a wide variety of contrasting habitats in 13 included four of the six North American in southern Arizona) require cooperative, states, including montane, forest, prairie, (which took us to two deserts), 14 international conservation efforts. Demand desert, lake, river, swamp, and marine ecosys- species of map () turtles (ob- for the international pet trade drives poaching tems. We used the most recent Turtle Tax- served across five states), Flattened Musk of federal- and state-listed species. Despite onomy Working Group checklist (2014) that Turtles ( depressus), which are the urgency of the situation, opportunities for was available on the first day of TBTY and geographically restricted to one river system conservation are abundant and the charis- began our search for 59 species. Our year-long in north-central Alabama, and five marine matic attraction of turtles makes them an quest started at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, species, including 9 Loggerhead Sea Turtles excellent group for education and outreach St. Petersburg, Florida. This location was (Caretta caretta), 4 Green Sea Turtles (Che- efforts to enhance ecological, conservation, selected for symbolic reasons as the preserve lonia mydas), and 2 Leatherback Sea Turtles and environmental awareness. is close to George’s heart and where he has (Dermochelys coriacea) during a single eve- The year-long project ended in Florida as it studied the herpetofauna for over 25 years. ning on a dark beach on Florida’s east coast. began, but with a sighting of a single Florida There, we observed nine Gopher Tortoises A diverse range of threats (many working in Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia chry- ( polyphemus), including a hatchling synergy) are of concern to conservationists. sea) at Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve at its burrow. Although no longer eaten (legal Habitat loss and degradation tops the list, but (Collier County). We had searched in four harvest ended in 1988), habitat loss and frag- water levels and quality, limited geographic states for this common, yet secretive species, mentation, as well as road mortality, continue range, and poaching are also major concerns. and finally got #57 for TBTY with just three as major threats to this keystone species of the Long periods of drought can severely impact days to spare. In the end, only two species Southeastern Coastal Plain. species such as the Northern Western Pond were not found: Apalachicola Alligator Snap- George, the constant in the project, com- Turtle ( marmorata), Southern ping Turtle ( apalachicolae) and pleted 12 multi-day field trips (logging 78 (Actinemys pallida), ( flavescens). nights away from home), as well as numer- and Sonoyta Mud Turtle (Kinosternon We tried for them in Georgia and Texas ous daylong excursions. Tim joined three sonoriense longifemorale). Turtles often respectively, but it was not to be. field trips, as well as coordinated multiple become concentrated in very small pools We are most grateful to all of our project technical and logistical aspects of the proj- making them vulnerable to predators and partners, everyone who joined us in the ect. Along the way were dozens of opportu- desiccation. Species with limited geographic field, and to dozens of generous donors who nities to see wild turtles, both common and ranges within the U.S., such as the Sonoyta made this project possible. Like many FTCT rare, in their associated habitats. Highlights Mud Turtle (occurs in a single half-acre pond projects, this one was fully funded by such individuals. What a great time we had travers- ing the U.S., and both learning about and educating others on the plight of U.S. species. Although the fieldwork phase of this project is now complete, we still have much work to do, including a nationwide lecture series, magazine articles, and a book. Please visit the project website (www.thebigturtleyear.org) and FTCT’s Facebook page for updates. We like turtles and know that you do too.

Contact: George L. Heinrich, Heinrich Ecological Services, 1213 Alhambra Way S., St. Petersburg, Florida 33705-4620, USA [george@heinrichecologicalser- vices.com]; Timothy J. Walsh, Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich, Old friends, George L. Heinrich and Timothy J. Walsh, with an adult (Glyptemys insculpta) in New Jersey. As directors of the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust (www.ftct.org), they conduct diverse Connecticut 06830-7157, USA [twalsh@ research, conservation, and education projects. PHOTO CREDIT: TIMOTHY J. WALSH brucemuseum.org]

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