Special Places: Eco-lessons from the National Parks in Atlantic Canada

Information Sheet: Blanding’s Turtle

Introduction

The Blanding’s turtle is a relatively large, northern freshwater reptile species. The species’ range extends from Nova Scotia and southern Maine, to southwestern Quebec and southern Ontario, around the Great Lakes and westward to central Nebraska. The turtles live in small groups or patches especially at the edge of their range.

© Parks Canada / Don Pentz

There is an isolated Nova Scotia population found at the most northerly limit of its range. It includes about 200 individual turtles in Kejimkujik National Park and two other nearby populations, one of about 50 individuals and the other with only ten. This is all that is currently known about the Nova Scotia population. It is uncertain if the species was ever plentiful in Nova Scotia.

The turtle makes its home in shallow waters and wetlands, including stillwater streams, bogs and shallow plant-filled lake coves. These waters are very dark, tea-coloured and some flow through sphagnum (peat) moss bogs. This makes an ideal habitat for the turtles, allowing them to hide and find shelter. Typically, the females nest on gravel beaches with south facing slopes exposed to the sun. Some turtles even nest on roadsides and in gravel pits.

Females will lay approximately eight 4 cm eggs during June and July, which will hatch from September to October, depending upon the warmth of the summer weather.

COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife) designated the Blanding’s turtle as a threatened species in Nova Scotia in 1993.

Reasons for Species Loss

© Parks Canada / Don Pentz

• Human activities can damage turtle habitat outside the park – dams, roads, cottage development, farms, etc.
• The more the garbage, the more raccoons have a dependable food source, ensuring more raccoons. The more raccoons, the more potential to prey on turtle eggs and reduce the turtle population.
• The cold climate limits the Nova Scotia range to a small area in southwestern end of the province.
• The cold climate also often reduces the incubation period and therefore reduces successful egg hatching.
• There is limited suitable habitat within Kejimkujik.

Efforts to Conserve

Nests are being covered in Kejimkujik National Park to protect the turtle eggs from raccoons and other predators.

Occasionally, turtle nests in vulnerable roadside locations are moved to safer areas within the park. There has been hatching success with this effort.

Interpretive programs (along with pamphlets and on-site signs) inform visitors about the turtle and concerns for its survival, and how they can help.

Nesting areas in Kejimkujik are classified (zoned) as “Special Areas” to protect crucial turtle habitat. This means that development is not permitted and human use is restricted.

There is a National Recovery Team and a planned strategy to save the Blanding’s turtle in Nova Scotia.

Researchers are attempting to determine the current distribution in Nova Scotia and to discover new Blanding’s turtle locations.

The Blanding’s turtle is protected under the Nova Scotia Wildlife Act.

References

COSEWIC Web site: www.cosewic.gc.ca
Parks Canada Web site: www.parkscanada.gc.ca
Species at Risk Web site: www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca