HOURS OF OPERATION
Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
(Gates close promptly at 5:00 p.m.)
Eastern Box Turtle Study
Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) were once a frequent and beloved sight in Maryland's woods. In recent years, however, their populations have started to diminish, resulting in far fewer encounters. The primary causes for their decline are urbanization, building roads, and collection as pets. Much of the turtles' habitat has been cut down to build housing communities, towns, stores, etc. Also, roads cut through what remains of their woods result in many turtles getting hit as they attempt to cross. Many turtles are taken out of their natural habitat by people who simply believe they will make good pets. To help save the remaining populations, many organizations are beginning to conduct extensive studies on them.
Radio telemetry is the primary method used to study the turtle population at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center. Small radio transmitters are attached to the turtles' carapaces (the top portion of the shell). Each transmitter has a different frequency, which can be picked up by a receiver. Researchers and volunteers follow the receiver's 'beeps' to the turtle. Once a turtle is found, GPS position as well as data about the habitat, the weather, and the turtle's behavior are recorded. The GPS data is then used to map out the turtle's home range. This is important because it tells us how much space they need and what habitat they prefer. Currently, 12 turtles with transmitters are all being tracked at least twice a week. Also, six other turtles have been tracked in past years.
In addition to tracking certain turtles, all the other turtles found are monitored by using a notch code system. Currently, 81 turtles have been found and notched. Many of these have been recaptured at least once. Whenever a turtle is found, the age, sex, size, weight, GPS location, and anything unusual is recorded. This allows us to map out the population as well as determine its health, size, age, sex ratio, etc.
Thread Survey
Thread surveys are another useful tool for studying box turtles. Duct tape is used to attach spools of dental floss (thread) to the turtles' carapaces. The thread then unwinds as the turtle walks, creating a trail of exactly where the turtle traveled. If the turtle gets stuck, or reaches the end of its spool, however, the duct tape will pull off allowing the turtle to keep going. The thread surveys can help us discover more about our local turtle populations. First, are any of our females nesting in the park? So far no nests have been found. Secondly, what are the ratios of turtle movement? In other words, at the end of each survey the thread itself is measured. Additionally, a straight line is measured from where the turtle started to where the thread stopped. This shows how far the turtle actually moved compared to how far it moved in a straight line. Finally, a large grid has been set up in which many of the surveys are being conducted. This grid consists of 219 plots, each of which is nine square meters (3x3). The percent cover of all the major shrub species in each plot was recorded. (Percent cover is simply an estimate of the amount of a certain plant species in a given area.) Whenever a thread survey is conducted in the grid, the plots the turtle passed through are recorded. This data is being used to see if there is a correlation between shrub species and turtle movement.
How You Can Help
There are several simple ways that you can help the remaining box turtle populations. First, if you see a turtle crossing the road, stop and help it across. Take it to the side it was heading towards and let it go several feet from the road. Many turtles die trying to cross roads, so stopping and moving them across is a big help. Second, please do not relocate turtles. Many people are compelled to remove turtles from an area that they think is "unsafe" and move them to a "safer" location, such as a nature center. While this may sound like a good idea, it actually creates several problems. First, when relocated, box turtles will often try to return to where they were taken from. This frequently involves the turtle crossing roads where they often get hit. Also, relocating turtles can spread diseases from one population to another. So, if you find a turtle, just leave it where it is, even if you think it would be better off somewhere else. Finally, please do not take box turtles home as pets. They may seem like excellent pets, but they need to be left in the wild. If you take a turtle out of the wild, then it is no longer there to play its role in the environment and to breed with other turtles to sustain the population. So while it may live a long life in your cage, from an ecological standpoint you have eliminated the animal from the population. Also, proper care for turtles is not common knowledge. Many pet turtles become sick or do not do well in captivity. The best thing you can do for a turtle is to leave it right where you found it.
If you want to further help box turtles, become a turtle volunteer here at the Anita C. Leight Estuary Center!
What's Happening
Calendar of EventsView all
- Volunteer Opportunity: Invasinators08/01/2010 @ 11:00 am-1:00 pmBecome a part of the volunteer team of invasive plant removers and native plant restorers. Learn why non-native invasive plants are a threat to our ecosystem, how to identify problem plants, and removal and restoration strategies. Wear sturdy shoes, long sleeves, and work gloves for field work in the Reserve each meeting date.
- Canoe Trip: Up the Creek With a Paddle08/01/2010 @ 2:30 pm-5:00 pmAdventure up Otter Point Creek to seek the abundance of summer life in the estuary! We’ll go after grasses, sedges, and rushes and look for residents hiding among them. See how the estuary in summertime is the cool place to be…
- Canoe Explorations Summer Nature Camp08/02/2010 @ 9:00 am-4:00 pmJourney on our waters as we discover the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed by canoe. Each day we will paddle a different location in the local area. Basic instruction will be provided the first day. Bring a lunch and water bottle each day (no glass).
- Nature Tots & Kids08/02/2010 @ 9:00 am-10:00 amExplore and discover the natural world around us during the summer season through sensory activities, songs, movement and a short hike.
- Nature's Playgroup: Session I08/04/2010 @ 9:00 am-10:00 amLittle ones and their parents play and learn in the natural world. Stories, songs, simple crafts and discovery outings will highlight each day's theme.
