Ruby

Because you cannot get enough cute dog photos there are these.....

 

Death to the Invader

Started the day early with a trusted consultant touring The Platz and noting the geolocation of patches of non-native woody invasives - namely buckthorn and honeysuckle.

The good news is that the bad shrubs are not widely distributed and largely concentrated in locations where they can be dealt-with by hand and spot treatment.

You might be wondering why anyone would hire someone to do something they could perform on their own and the answer is two-fold. 

First, most of the locations are wetland, seasonally wet, or stream bank.  It is sensitive and home to a terrestrial-aquatic inhabitant: the Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii).  While not threatened or endangered this turtle is listed as a Species of Special Concern.  As a consequence licensed applicators should perform this job.

The second reason is we can afford it.

They don't know it yet but today the invaders received a death sentence today.

You can learn more about NES Ecological Services here.

Casting Bread Upon the Waters

In the Old Testament the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us the following:  Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.   

The biblical metaphor is the reason for casting your bread on water is to let it go.  Just toss it out, give it away, and be generous without obsessing over where it is going.  When you give in the true spirit of giving it will come back to you.  If you are truly generous good deeds will ultimately be reciprocated.   

While visiting with family in Mississippi last week the grandson and I walked down to the pond with a loaf of stale bread and we cast it upon the water.  Literally.   

 click on images for a better view

The bream (called blue gill around these parts) came to feed on it and eventually a half-dozen turtles joined in the fray.   

No metaphor here.  Just good fun for Opa and the kid.

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.

The Turtle Hatch

Not birds but reptiles.

With the arrival of spring the turtles hatched last weekend.  

I was puttering with the battery charger on the boat in the machine shed when I noticed this little guy (or girl?) scuttling north across the concrete floor. 

 click on images to enlarge

North is not the way out so I fetched the teeny tiny turtle - about the size of a quarter - and walked it out to the edge of the edge of the rain garden pond in the back yard.  

Placing the youngster at the edge I wished it - Bon Chance!

Several hours later I was rottotilling the large raised garden next to the shed and spotted this little turtle - slightly larger than the first - clambering through the dirt and determinedly heading north.  Turtle #2.

I hate to say it but the dirt coating this tiny turtle is evidence that it must have made it through a rottotilling unscathed.  No worse for the wear.  I promptly delivered this tough little survivor to the edge of the same pond.

As a consequence I am pleased to announce that the previous Turtle #1 had already moved on.

My best guess is that the smaller turtle #1 was a snapper - Chelydra serpintina.  It is distinguished by the prominent ridges on the upper shell and spiky teeth on the edge of the rear marginal scutes.  Big claws too.

Turtle #2 was larger and had red markings on the underside (plastron).  No spikes or sharp ridges.  My guess is a Painted turtle - Chrysemys picta.It is not uncommon for this turtle to hatch and remain in the nest over winter and dig their way out the following spring.

For both species of turtle the sex is dependent upon soil temperature. 

It's rather terrific knowing these reptiles are around.  Especially when they choose to nest right in your yard.  Sign of good habitat and a healthy environment.We've had adult visitors of both species rather regularly around The Platz - oftentimes walking across the driveway. 

Snap!

The Frau took these picture the other day of a humongous female snapping turtle.  A common snapping turtle.

 click on the images to enlarge

Our best guess is that this is a female because they've been around this time of year before to lay eggs in the leafy litter around the shop building, the apple trees or the ancient lilacs.  No respectable snapper would have anything else to do with the joint this time of year. 
Snappers will travel great distances to lay their eggs.

Predictably, there will be silver dollar-sized turtles before too long running all over the place.

Chelydra serpentina.  These reptiles are omnivores, consuming invertebrates, small birds and animals, snakes, other turtles and anything else they can scavenge.   They are know for their belligerent attitude too.  

I wouldn't grab a snapper for anything.  And what was creepy about this snapper was that it had moss growing on top of its shell.  Gross.

Go figure...

The Turtle Calleth

Chrysemys picta to be exact.

click on the reptile to enlarge

The painted turtle.  The most common Wisconsin turtle that there is. 

The Frau and I were sitting on the porch the other day enjoying a refreshing adult beverage when this turtle materialized on the driveway.  She was heading north (in the direction of the pond) and most likely finished laying her eggs in a location with a south-facing exposure.  Like my garden.

Will have to keep our eyes peeled for little turtlettes...