Herps

It is said that if you enjoy the company of an abundance of reptiles and amphibians on the premises you likely are blessed with a healthy ecosystem.  These are critters that often serve as the ecological equivalent of the canary in the coal mine and when their numbers diminish it is a reliable sign of a decline in suitable wildlife habitat or a degradation of the environment. 

Herptiles – herps for short – is a term used to encompass both reptiles and amphibians.  With a sunny 68 degree day today I encountered a couple of half dollar-sized herps on the driveway.    

click on images to enlarge

Following mating female turtles of most Wisconsin species excavate a depression in softer or sandy soils for laying their eggs.  We must have some appropriate soil types around the house inasmuch as encountering hatchling turtles is not uncommon several times throughout the year.  

Anyway, after depositing her eggs mother turtle covers the clutch with dirt, leaf litter and debris - and she departs.  She does not stay to protect the nest site, nor return to nurture or raise the newly-hatched turtles. The leathery, ping pong ball-sized eggs harden over time and with no small amount of luck will survive until hatching and beyond.   Most nests are predated by mammals such as raccoon, skunk, fox and coyote.  Hatchlings often fall victim to the same predators along with gulls, cranes and herons eating their fill.  Only a small percentage of hatchlings survive and grow to adulthood and reproductive age.    

As a rule of thumb if the eggs incubate in ground temperatures of 84 to 86 degrees they generally result in females, cooler nests of 76 to 77 degrees will yield males with a mixed brood incubated at 82 to 84 degrees.   

The offspring of some species that hatch in later September or October will remain hidden underground until spring warms the earth.   Unlike hibernating toads and frogs that freeze during winter the bodies of turtles do not. A turtle's metabolism runs at very low pace and they remain alert to changes in light and temperature that signal the arrival of spring.. From time-to-time a sober ice drinker will report a turtle sighting thru a hole in the winter ice.

Turtles like these (and the ones in the photos) dig their way out from their nest with the arrival of spring, reveal themselves and set out in search of water.   

If you see an adult turtle on the road in the summer it will likely be a female seeking a nesting site.  Turtles on the road in the fall are of both sexes looking for a location to overwinter.  If you see a turtle on the road please give it a brake.  If it’s not a snapper give it a lift to the safe side of the road they’re heading for.    

The red markings suggest that these are Painted turtles – Chrysemys picta.  They’re a common turtle around here along with the snapping turtles that inhabit the ponds, creek and wetlands on the property.