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central counties.They are most concentrated in the mortality as they travel to their aquatic habitat.
<br /> vast marshes along the Wisconsin River in Wood, Hatchlings are about one and a quarter inches long
<br /> Juneau,Adams,and Iowa counties.While and range from dark gray to greenish in color.
<br /> Blanding's turtles live primarily in marshes and the Little is known about the habits of the young.They
<br /> shallow bays of lakes,they also can be found in appear to be very secretive,foraging exclusively in
<br /> shallow,slow-moving rivers,streams,and some aquatic habitats which are densely vegetated.Once
<br /> northern bogs. they are about 6 inches long they can be seen
<br /> basking and foraging more easily and often.
<br /> Life History: Even fully grown the Blanding's turtle is one of
<br /> The Blanding's turtle is semi-aquatic.It prefers nature's most timid creatures.Due to their shyness,
<br /> open,grassy marshes containing shallow water, they must be approached very delicately if they are
<br /> but it will,on occasion,move to ground adjacent to to be observed.If disturbed on land,the Blanding's
<br /> water to forage or bask in the sun.While in the turtle will pull itself tightly into its shell.If it is
<br /> basking in an aquatic environment,it may quickly
<br /> water,it feeds on crustaceans,snails,insects,frogs, dive and remain hidden in the watery depths if it
<br /> and fishes.Crayfish appear to be a preferred food senses danger.It will remain at the bottom for 20 to
<br /> when available.When on land,however,it con- 30 minutes at a stretch before again peeking
<br /> sumes earthworms,slugs,grasses,berries,and
<br /> succulent vegetation.The Blanding's turtle is carefully above water.Though shy,the Blanding's
<br /> unique because,unlike most turtles,it can swallow turtle is also exceedingly gentle and will very
<br /> food both in and out of the water.During the rarely attempt to bite.
<br /> winter,it hibernates by burying itself in the silt on Current Status:
<br /> the bottom of the pond,bay,or river it inhabits
<br /> which reduces its chances of freezing. Maintaining both its aquatic and terrestrial
<br /> Blanding's turtles require 15 to 20 years to environments is critical to the survival of the
<br /> mature.Mating usually occurs in the water during Blanding's turtle.Its population in parts of Wiscon-
<br /> early spring.After fertilization,females will bask in sin has become limited as natural wetlands are
<br /> the sun with their heads and legs fully extended. drained in preparation for suburban development
<br /> This warming behavior,called thermoregulation, or for conversion to soil adequate for farming.
<br /> speeds the development of their eggs enabling These practices dramatically affect the local turtle
<br /> them to be laid sooner.This gives the eggs a better population by shrinking and fragmenting its
<br /> chance of hatching before the autumn frost.This,in habitat.In addition,the introduction of new roads
<br /> turn,allows the hatchlings to grow before hibernat- with increased traffic results in the accidental
<br /> ing,giving the immature turtles a greater chance of killing of Blanding's turtles as their shells cannot
<br /> surviving the winter. withstand the weight of an automobile.A road
<br /> About one-half of the female population breeds presents a major hazard if its placement requires
<br /> annually.Like all turtles,they must lay their eggs the turtles to cross it to either lay their eggs or to
<br /> on land and prefer a patch of sandy ground for reach their non-aquatic foraging grounds.Wet-
<br /> nesting.They will travel up to one and a half miles lands—with adjacent territory—provide the
<br /> from water to nest,and they usually return to the stable environment needed for the well-being of
<br /> same nesting site each year.They typically lay their the Blanding's turtle.Without this stable environ-
<br /> eggs during the late afternoon or after dusk.Once ment,the future of this and many other species is
<br /> they deposit the eggs in the ground,the mothers threatened.
<br /> return to the water,and the sun's warmth is used
<br /> to incubate the nested eggs.The dutch may contain
<br /> from 3 to 17 elliptical eggs.Between 65 and 90 days
<br /> pass before they hatch.
<br /> The nests,however,are not safe.Subject to
<br /> predation by birds and small mammals such as Bureau of
<br /> crows,skunks and raccoons,many eggs are lost in Endangered
<br /> the first 24 hours of incubation.Those that do hatch Resources
<br /> are in danger of additional predation and highway
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