(for an article we previously published about the first Blandings hatchlings found in Concord in decades, see http://www.concordma.com/magazine/julaug00/blandings.html)
Blandings turtles (Emys blandingii, pictured at right), a "threatened species" in Massachusetts, are declining in our state. The local population at Great Meadows in Concord is the third largest one known in all of New England, but it has declined by more than 50% in the past 30 years. Blandings' nests are often inadvertantly destroyed, and adults -- especially nesting females -- have been killed by cars when crossing roads. Without our help, these unique turtles, many of whom are over 60 years old, will soon be gone from Concord.
In 2003, biologists and conservationists, led by Concordian Dr. Bryan Windmiller, John Berkholtz of Zoo New England, and Stephanie Koch of USFWS Great Meadows, began studying the plight of the Great Meadows Blandings. Since then, they have been tracking them, learning about their needs, protecting nests, and raising some of the young at Zoo New England and the New England Aquarium to enhance their chances of living to be the adults of the future.
Here's how we Concordians can help:
1) Report any sightings (noting exact location and time) of the Blandings at Great Meadows to Bryan Windmiller (bwindmiller@gmail.com, 978 369-5507).
If the turtles have radio transmitters attached to them, record the number on the transmitter if there is one visible. Also please note if there are notches filed into the edge of the shell and, if you have a camera, take photos of any notches.
2) Allow these rare turtles to nest in your yard. Many females choose yards as their nesting sites during the June nesting season. If possible, allow them to nest on your property and allow our turtle conservationists access to locate and protect the next. They would then check the nest every day in September to secure the babies of the next generation.
3) Help ALL types of turtles cross the road. If it is safe for you, help all turtles across roads, always placing them on the side to which they were heading.
Here is identifying information for the Blandings. The adults can be large (7-9"), with a high-domed, dark shell. They have bright yellow, unstriped throat and chin, and no red markings.
No need to report sightings of Snapping or Painted Turtles (pictured immediately above and at right). The Snapper is very large, with a saw-toothed rear edge of their flat shell. They have "dragon-like" points on their tail. The Painted is the most frequently seen turtle in Great Meadows, often found to be basking in the sun. They are fairly small (4-6" for the adults). They have a flat, dark shell with red markings along its edge, and yellow and red stripes in their head and neck.
Blandings turtles (Emys blandingii, pictured at right), a "threatened species" in Massachusetts, are declining in our state. The local population at Great Meadows in Concord is the third largest one known in all of New England, but it has declined by more than 50% in the past 30 years. Blandings' nests are often inadvertantly destroyed, and adults -- especially nesting females -- have been killed by cars when crossing roads. Without our help, these unique turtles, many of whom are over 60 years old, will soon be gone from Concord.In 2003, biologists and conservationists, led by Concordian Dr. Bryan Windmiller, John Berkholtz of Zoo New England, and Stephanie Koch of USFWS Great Meadows, began studying the plight of the Great Meadows Blandings. Since then, they have been tracking them, learning about their needs, protecting nests, and raising some of the young at Zoo New England and the New England Aquarium to enhance their chances of living to be the adults of the future.
Here's how we Concordians can help:
1) Report any sightings (noting exact location and time) of the Blandings at Great Meadows to Bryan Windmiller (bwindmiller@gmail.com, 978 369-5507).
If the turtles have radio transmitters attached to them, record the number on the transmitter if there is one visible. Also please note if there are notches filed into the edge of the shell and, if you have a camera, take photos of any notches.2) Allow these rare turtles to nest in your yard. Many females choose yards as their nesting sites during the June nesting season. If possible, allow them to nest on your property and allow our turtle conservationists access to locate and protect the next. They would then check the nest every day in September to secure the babies of the next generation.
3) Help ALL types of turtles cross the road. If it is safe for you, help all turtles across roads, always placing them on the side to which they were heading.
Here is identifying information for the Blandings. The adults can be large (7-9"), with a high-domed, dark shell. They have bright yellow, unstriped throat and chin, and no red markings. No need to report sightings of Snapping or Painted Turtles (pictured immediately above and at right). The Snapper is very large, with a saw-toothed rear edge of their flat shell. They have "dragon-like" points on their tail. The Painted is the most frequently seen turtle in Great Meadows, often found to be basking in the sun. They are fairly small (4-6" for the adults). They have a flat, dark shell with red markings along its edge, and yellow and red stripes in their head and neck.
