It’s been a long winter, but now birds are singing, trees are budding, and Blanding’s turtles are hungry and on the move after winter hibernation. People who spot a Blanding’s turtle are asked to contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Program.
Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer, a DNR regional nongame wildlife specialist at New Ulm, explained that the DNR is continuing to study this state threatened species. “We’ve learned a lot about Blanding’s turtles and their habitats in southern Minnesota through surveys and by tracking turtles outfitted with radio transmitters,” Gelvin-Innvaer said. “Still, there are gaps in our knowledge of this rare and secretive species.”
Blanding’s turtles, which are cold-tolerant, are among the first to become active in the spring. Gelvin-Innvaer is urging people to be on the lookout for them.
“We’ve been getting great cooperation from private citizens and DNR staff who have been keeping an eye out and reporting any sightings to us,” she said. “But we could certainly use more help.”
Blanding’s turtles can be found in both prairie and forested regions of northeastern and central North America. They prefer calm, shallow water, including wetlands and slow moving rivers and streams with rich vegetation. In southwestern Minnesota, streams, fens, grasslands/prairies marshes and bottomlands are important aquatic habitats. They don’t spend all the time in their water, though.
During early spring, the turtles may spend time in sunny grassy areas to bask. Often barely visible, they may go undetected. Blanding’s turtles may be found in adjacent grassy marshes and wet meadows. In June, females nest on uplands in lighter, often sandy soils - generally in grasslands. If suitable nesting areas are not located, they may nest in and around agricultural fields, gravel pits, on the shoulders of roads or driveways, in yards, or wander a considerable distance from their marsh until a suitable area is found. In late August-September, turtles travel to over-wintering sites. Many turtles are killed on the roadways during overland treks. Degradation of wetlands, streams and upland buffers are the other great threats to Blanding’s turtles in Minnesota.
Blanding’s turtles are easily distinguished by their bright yellow chin and underside of the neck. The upper shell is dome-shaped, very smooth, and dark with specks and streaks of yellow throughout. The adult is relatively large, about the size of a football.
Anyone who spots a Blanding’s turtle in south-central or southwestern Minnesota is asked to report the sighting to Gelvin-Innvaer at (507) 359-6033 or lisa.gelvin-innvaer@dnr.state.mn.us. Include the name, phone number or e-mail address of the person reporting the sighting along with the date of sighting, specific location, and the number of turtles sighted. Photos are especially helpful.
“The sooner we learn of a sighting, the more useful the information will be for our study,” Gelvin-Innvaer said.
Habitat that is good for Blanding’s turtles is also valuable for many other wildlife species, such as waterbirds, waterfowl, pheasants, songbirds, fish and others that have adapted to the Prairie Pothole region.
“They’re good indicators of what’s happening to land and water habitats,” Gelvin-Innvaer said. “If the Blanding’s turtle is struggling to make it, you can bet there are probably impacts to other wildlife species as well as humans. It’s important to understand these factors for our own benefit and to promote conservation for healthy landscapes.”
The DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program cooperates with other DNR units, other agencies and private landowners to conserve and restore habitat to benefit Blanding’s turtles and other native species in greatest need of conservation in southern Minnesota. This project helps to implement a statewide Action Plan for Minnesota Wildlife Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
For more information about Blanding’s turtles, go to the DNR Web site at www.mndnr.gov.