Wood Turtle Threatened STATUS V Ulnerable Nova Scotia Glyptemys Insculpta

37 Wood Turtle Threatened STATUS V ulnerable Nova Scotia Glyptemys insculpta

Found throughout the province, with concentrations in Guysborough and Annapolis Counties. Population Range Habitat Clear, moderately moving rivers and tributaries in forests or flood plains. Local plants include alders, chokecherry, hawthorn and mixed wood stands of deciduous and coniferous trees. Females lay their eggs in sandy bars along rivers and other gravel areas (driveways, roadsides, borrow pits) in June. R E F I S L U P

K R A M

The Wood Turtle has a bumpy, N N I I T T

D D I I

sculpted shell that is dark grey E E R R

to brown, with orange mark- © © ings when wet. The skin of the Wood Turtles are typically found basking in the sun by rivers and streams throat, tail, and limbs are in spring; along roadsides in June & July (when females are up laying orange-red. Hatchlings are light eggs) and August & September (when travelling to overwintering sites); brown and toonie-sized, and carapace (back): plastron (belly): swimming in waterways, or walking through nearby woods, in the spring, adults are about 16-21 cm long. dark grey; orange yellowish; small markings (wet) black blotches summer, and fall. Interesting Points Threats to Survival How You Can Help

For the first 25 years, age is Road mortality and collection Do not disturb turtles and leave

for the pet trade. them where you find them. Do not

determined by counting annuli R E F I S

(growth rings) on the plastron. L Habitat loss and degradation, support the wild animal pet trade U P

K from increasing development by having wild turtles as pets.

They eat slugs, insects, green R A M plants, grasses, mushrooms, along rivers, water course Create or maintain natural buffers and berries. © alteration, farm expansion, along watercourses. Keep your eyes They are the most terrestrial of and other industry open for turtles on the road and the freshwater turtles. practices. drive carefully. Refer to the Human disturbance from an Stewardship Plan for information Y E L

G increase in recreational on how to work in Wood Turtle N I T

I activities in river and riparian habitat (link below). E R Similar Species

Painted Turtle: Smaller (10-15 cm); low-domed shell; red-orange M U

markings on shell and face; all yellow/orange E S U M

plastron; white outline around each shell segment. S N

R E Y F E Blanding’s Turtle: I L C L G U N I P

Similar size (20-25 cm); smooth, high-domed shell; T

K L D I R I E A E N R bright yellow throat and chin; smile on face; yellow M

C M

flecks on carapace. I F F E J

Snapping Turtle: I Contact: NS DNR at (902) 679-6091, [email protected] H R E

Much larger (up to 60 cm long); sculpted, bumpy V Info: www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca A C

shell, jagged at the back; spiky tail, huge head and N

A Sighting Reports: 1-866-727-3447 or [email protected] N N

pronounced beak; brown-grey colour. E

R Stewardship Plan: www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/biodiv/species_recovery.htm B