Nebraskaland

April 2022 Nebraskaland

NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.

Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1463221

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22 Nebraskaland • April 2022 by almost perfect nesting substrate," Lang said. "Sand is what they like, and so they could almost nest anywhere. It's just a matter of picking the right slope; the right place where the sand has drained and warmed. Basically they can hike out of these lakes in almost any upland area, and it's probably 10 times better than most Blanding's turtles in the world would fi nd." Mark Lindvall, a retired manager of the refuge and project volunteer, said Blanding's turtles deserve special consideration in road development. They seem to be more timid than other kinds of turtles, a characteristic that he believes may make them more vulnerable to traffi c than other species. "They're crummy at crossing the road," he said. "Of all the turtles, they're the worst. The car comes by and they suck in (their shell) and just stay there. Others, such as painted turtles or snappers, will suck in, but then get out of there. Blanding's just linger." A couple of road projects have helped the turtles, he believes. During the Highway 83 project, sections of chain link fence were installed along problem areas of the road, directing turtles to cross in culverts that connect the expanse of lakes and marshes. Earlier, in 1999, Little Hay Road, which provides access to many sites on the refuge, was improved from a two-track trail to a graded gravel road. "I think this reduced turtle mortality, as prior to the improvements turtles were less visible to motorists and less likely to linger on the road," he said. "When it was a two- track, water collected in the ruts and attracted turtles." With the ruts' puddles largely concealed by grass, drivers on two-tracks smashed turtles without even knowing it. Nest predation also is a major threat to Blanding's turtles. Less than 24 hours after laying her eggs, the female returns to the marsh leaving behind six to 21 buried prizes for skunks, foxes, raccoons and other nest predators. The eggs have an incubation period of 50-75 days, but are most exposed during the fi rst 48 hours when scent is strongest. Studies have shown that Blanding's and other turtles in their range face more than 80 percent mortality because of nest predation. Conversion of wetlands and uplands to agricultural and other uses has been hard on the species, destroying habitat and making it easier for predators to locate nests in what remains. "They get hammered like crazy on the East Coast, mostly crossing roads, because their habitat has been all fragmented," Lang said. Even though the Blanding's turtle's conservation status forbids it from being possessed, transported or sold in Nebraska, that does not always stop people from unlawfully Turtles are corralled in buckets during processing. Prior to release, newly drilled holes in their shell will correspond to an alphabetic code and provide a unique identifi er.

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