NESTING TURTLES
NESTING TURTLES
Turtle nesting season typically begins mid-May and runs through mid-July, with June being the peak month for nesting. Most turtle species lay eggs annually, but Blanding's turtles have been known to sometimes lay eggs every other year. Depending on when she mates, egg-laying may extend into autumn for a female snapping turtle.
Understanding turtle nesting and identifying a turtle nest on your property or public property is crucial for effective conservation. This resource is designed to provide you with the information you need, whether you're interested in a specific aspect of turtle nesting or want to learn about it comprehensively. We hope you find this resource informative and useful during and after the turtle season.
(1) ABOUT NESTING
(2) PREDATION
(3) NESTING SITES
(4) NESTING SUBSTRATE
(5) THE NESTING PROCESS
(6) IDENTIFY NESTING ACTIVITY
(7) WHEN NESTING MAY OCCUR
(8) GIVE TURTLES SPACE
(9) AFTER NESTING
(10) NEST PROTECTION
(11) SURPRISES
(1) ABOUT NESTING
Since the survival of the eggs depends upon concealment, the best way to find a nest is to witness the egg-laying process. This requires patience and keen observation. Of course, this is only sometimes possible. When the turtle is not observed nesting, it can be more of a challenge.
Detecting a finished turtle nest can be a real challenge, even for experienced individuals. It requires a keen sense of when and where turtles will nest, familiarity with telltale signs, and a different perspective on the landscape. Unfortunately, nests are often discovered after a predator has dug them up, leaving eggshell remnants scattered around the nest opening.
That being said, even the most experienced person can find it challenging to locate a Painted turtle, Map turtle, or Blanding's turtle nest when the turtle was 'not' observed nesting because they tidy up their nest site so well and are meticulous about making the nest site blend with the surroundings. It can be challenging to identify some nests until predators have dug up the eggs. This contributes to why many of their nests get predated during the first 10 to 21 days of incubation and often within 24 hours of the turtle laying her eggs.
(2) PREDATION
Please be prepared for predation; it is heartbreaking and part of nature's plans, as some turtle eggs are intended to sustain other species. The ongoing and increased efforts to protect turtle nests today are to offset the imbalance that has resulted in the number of nests surviving vs. predated, which has skyrocketed over the last few decades. This is mainly due to human activities contributing to various predator species populations, such as exploding raccoons. Additionally, turtles often nest at night or during the wee hours of the morning, leaving nests vulnerable to predation. Memory, visual cues, and scent easily detect nests. Some nests go undetected by predators, most often thanks to nature's helping hand. Rain during nesting season is beneficial as it helps to dissipate the scent the turtle leaves behind, which can linger for 2 to 3 weeks.
It is hard to accept that after all the effort put into nesting, 90 percent or more of turtle nests are predated by predators such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, minks, snakes, rats, and crows.
(3) NESTING SITES
Female turtles have strong nesting site fidelity, most often their place of birth, which thus has ancestral connections. Interestingly, this could mean there are nesting sites where the mother turtle and possibly at least one of her offspring, having reached sexual maturity, may be nesting at the same nesting grounds at some point.
In today's changing world, turtles being able to return to their place of birth to nest isn't always the case as development, alternate land use (such as agriculture or urbanization), or other changes may have made their birthplace inaccessible or inhospitable for nesting, forcing a turtle to have to find an alternative nesting site nearby if possible or elsewhere. Changes of this nature can be highly stressful for turtles and cause opportunistic nesting, meaning a turtle takes advantage of freshly disturbed soils where digging is easy. Poor nesting locations are also possible, even a dirt, gravel, or mulch pile that is temporarily located on a driveway or construction site.
If a female turtle finds a nesting site, she can successfully nest, often remaining faithful to it throughout her life. It is not uncommon for a turtle to return to the same nesting site each year and nest within a few inches of where the turtle nested the year before and in previous years. In regards to nest protection, this is beneficial as knowing where a turtle's nest is half the battle. On the downside, this can work against turtles as predators will know where and when turtle eggs will be on offer.
Some nesting grounds require female turtles to travel great distances to dig a nest and lay eggs, others not as far. It may appear odd to spot turtles crossing roads in a direction that takes them away from prominent turtle habitats such as wetlands but this is done for a reason. During the nesting season, a female turtle is most likely making the terrestrial trek to where she will nest. If helping a turtle across the road, always move the turtle in the direction the turtle was headed.
Note: A turtle ready to nest will often store urine to aid in digging her nest. If you have ever stopped to assist a turtle across the road and been peed on, this was likely a turtle looking to nest. She peed because she was stressed and scared by being handled. If at all possible, assisting a turtle across the road without handling the turtle during the nesting season would be best; however, in situations where the turtle is in eminent danger from vehicles and needs to be moved off the road quickly without question, do what has to be done to prevent the turtle from being run over by a vehicle. The turtle will likely put off nesting for a bit and resort to storing urine again or not.
During nesting season, if you encounter a turtle wandering around your property or a public site, it's essential to give the turtle space and avoid disturbing it. She is likely searching for a suitable nesting place, and interfering with her could disrupt her nesting process.
(4) NESTING SUBSTRATE
Typically, turtles nest in substrates they can dig in, which are in south- and southwest-facing locations for maximum sun exposure and a well-drained substrate. Turtles like to lay their eggs in sandy or loose soils of sand and gravel free from vegetation or with minimal vegetation cover. Unfortunately, the soil composition of road shoulders, driveways, and gravel pits is particularly attractive to nesting turtles. Beaches and shorelines being sandy are other locations where turtles like to nest. Sometimes, where turtles nest is based on what substrate is available, which isn't always the best for a successful outcome such as Loam (could be a mixture of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter), compost piles, and gardens, which may retain too much moisture but even so there are times hardy clutches of hatchlings are produced. Other substrates that can present challenges that turtles do at times nest are areas landscaped with woodchips, mulch, sandy fire pits, etc.
(5) THE NESTING PROCESS
During May to mid-July, female turtles that have reached sexual maturity leave their lakes, ponds, or wetlands, searching for sites with sandy or loose substrate to lay their eggs. Sexual maturity has more to do with the size of the turtle than age and varies with each turtle species native to Ontario. Snapping turtles, for example, are ready to mate when their carapace (upper shell) measures about 8 inches. This is when they are 17 to 20 years of age. Snapping turtles rarely leave their aquatic habitat except during the breeding/nesting season. Males will travel to find mates, and females will travel varying distances to dig a nest and lay eggs. Some turtles have been seen as far as 2.5 km from the nearest water source. Selected nest sites again depend on the species and can include road shoulders, beaches, gardens, embankments, driveways, fire pits, compost piles, etc. Blanding's turtles, nicknamed 'the wanderer,' are known to travel more than most turtle species and have been tracked as far as 5 - 6 km as they move between summer, nesting, and winter habitats.
Once a turtle locates where she intends to nest, she uses her hind legs to dig a shallow bowl-shaped nest in a well-drained, sunny location. She does this by slowly scooping one foot of the entire earth up and to the rear of her, alternating her left and right hind feet. If the soil is dry and tightly packed, she will urinate on it to facilitate digging. Nest depth varies by species and with the length of their hind legs. Snapping turtles, for instance, dig nests between 5 and 8 inches deep, but the hole's depth depends on the turtle's size since it is usually as deep as the female turtle can reach with her hind legs.
When the hole for the nest is dug, she proceeds to tip her backend downwards into the nest and slowly lift her body, then releasing one egg at a time, snapping turtles, sometimes two. The shape of the egg varies from one turtle species to another. An example is snapping turtle eggs that are similar to a ping pong ball but smaller and painted turtle eggs that are oblong and oval. While tipped in the nest laying eggs, the turtle will raise her body when she releases an egg, lower her body for a minute or two of rest, and then up again to release an egg. She does this as often as it takes to expel her eggs and deposit them into the nest. The turtle uses her hind legs to carefully arrange the eggs and cover them with soil after each one is laid.
The egg-laying process can take an hour or several hours, depending on the eggs she lays. This again varies with each species; for example, snapping turtles can lay as many as 1 to 100 plus eggs, and painted turtles, possibly 7 to 13 eggs. After she has finished laying her eggs, the turtle will use her clawed hind feet to begin to scrape the two piles of soil slowly she removed back into the hole, one foot at a time until the eggs are covered, at which point she tamps the soil down with her plastron (under shell/breastplate). This is her best attempt to disguise the nest by brushing the substrate over the area. Bless them for trying, but four-legged predators often detect nests by scent. After the nest is covered, the female turtle begins her trek to where she is headed to return to the water, leaving the eggs and hatchlings to fend for themselves.
(6) IDENTIFY NESTING ACTIVITY
How do you identify nesting activity when the turtle was 'NOT' observed nesting?
Wet Patch: A telltale sign a turtle has possibly nested is a distinct 'WET PATCH' on the surface of the soil, gravel, or sandy substrate. Female turtles store urine before nesting. This is done so they can urinate during nest construction, making the substrate easier to dig. If relatively fresh, the wet patch can be detected after the female has left the nest site, but the wet spot will dry up rapidly on sunny days, leaving little evidence of the presence of a nest.
Not So Tidy: Snapping turtle nests are more accessible to spot. They are not as meticulous about tidying up their nest site and leave visual cues. If you look across the soil, gravel, and sand in an area that has lost the substrate, you will see the soil has been disrupted and appears different from the surrounding soil. The turtle digs a nest so the soil is churned up. The soil may be wet because there is more moisture below the surface, or it is wet from the turtle urinating, or a combination. An indication of nests could include disturbed sand and vegetation.
Turtle Trails: If the soil is sandy, you may even see trail marks on the surface that show the turtle approaching the site and leaving the sight. The fresh nest will have claw marks at the outer edge. Should you observe turtle trails and no nest, look around the area. She may have nested elsewhere or returned to that location when optimal nesting conditions are in place.
Test Nests: Some turtles will excavate several holes, referred to as "false or test nests," which are holes dug that they don't bother to fill in. Research suggests that turtles do this to camouflage the actual nest. After laying eggs in the hole and covering them with dirt, the female departs.
(7) WHEN NESTING MAY OCCUR
Nesting activity accompanied by increased road crossings is more apt to occur …
- In the early mornings through to about noon. Turtles are less likely to be on the move during the afternoon if it is hot and sunny, but exceptions are always possible.
- In the evenings, as the hot afternoon temperatures begin to come down, nesting turtles sometimes use the milder evening/night temperatures and protective cover of darkness to lay their eggs.
- During light, intermittent showers and after it rains, nesting activity will often increase, regardless of the time of day. Rainy and humid days should put drivers on high turtle alert!
Although rain is more inclined to encourage us indoors, during nesting season, this is not the case for the turtles. Turtle behavior aligns with the rain for several reasons, especially during nesting season. These include:
- Turtles are highly aquatic, and increased moisture simulates an environment they are most akin to.
- Turtles are more apt to be on the move when the risk of dehydration and overheating is diminished.
- The rain may raise water levels, facilitating turtle movements in the wetlands, wildly snapping turtles.
- The ground is softer, and digging a nest to lay eggs is easier.
Rain will help erase most of the visual clues from the nesting site and (f) help dissipate the scent that lingers after a female has nested.
All indicators suggest that turtles are very much in tune with their environment. Although they do not remain with the nest as other animal species, they make choices that give the nest the best possible chance of surviving.
The Strawberry Moon is known to be a time when many turtles nest. The full moon has not been scientifically proven to influence freshwater turtle species' nesting habits, nor has it been disproven. Given the effect moon phases have on the water, it is not a far stretch to think that aquatic life would be affected by the cascading effects of the full moon in some way. The connections turtles have with the Strawberry Moon during nesting season are undeniable each year.
(8) GIVE TURTLES SPACE
If you observe a turtle nesting, give it space to ensure the nesting process is not disturbed. You should keep at least 10 meters between you and the nesting turtle. If you have a dog with you, it is best to remove your canine companion from the area. People being too close to a dog can be stressful for a turtle and cause her to abandon the nest without laying all her eggs or filling in the nest, making the eggs especially vulnerable.
When turtles have eggs, they have to expel them. If they don't, they can get 'egg bound,' also known as suffering from egg retention or dystocia. It can be life-threatening. A turtle disturbed while nesting may even dump her eggs into the water. Fertile eggs dumped into the water will die quickly as they drown. Suppose you find turtle eggs in the water. In that case, it is recommended that you retrieve them if it is safe to do so and call the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, home of Ontario's turtle hospital, at 705-741-5000.
(9) AFTER NESTING
After the female turtle has finished nesting and covered her nest, observe the direction she heads. If she intends to cross the road, please help ensure she gets safely across the road and when and if it is safe for you to do so. Nesting is physically draining, so a female turtle, after nesting, will move slower than usual and become dehydrated, making her more vulnerable when crossing roads. If you assist a turtle across the road, it is imperative to make 'SAFETY YOUR #1 PRIORITY' for your sake, and the motorists are counting on you to make wise and safe choices. Be sure to move the turtle in the direction she was headed. Note: Sometimes, female turtles, after nesting, will begin to head in a straight line away from the nest, giving the impression that is the direction the turtle intends to go. Hang back and be sure; snapping turtles are often observed moving in a straight line away from the nest, and then they do a '360', which results in the turtle heading in the opposite direction.
(10) NEST PROTECTION
It is widely reported that as many as ninety percent of all turtle nests are destroyed by predators, weather events and conditions, accidental disturbances, and other factors. We know many eggs do not hatch, and many babies do not live long. Any nest that is protected may have a positive impact on the survival of a new generation of local turtles. If a turtle nests on your property, you 'are allowed' to install a turtle nest protector and are encouraged to do so as a contribution to species recovery efforts in your community. Should you observe a turtle nesting on private property you do not own or public property such as a road shoulder, roadside, park, etc., as per property ownership, jurisdiction bylaws, motorists/cyclists/pedestrians safety and liability, turtle nest protectors are 'NOT' permitted to be installed. Should you install a nest protector without permission and there is an accident, you will be held responsible and liable for any damage or injuries caused.
We are fortunate in Ontario to be able to protect turtle nests on our property. It is an opportunity to help species at risk that some provinces do not have. We ask that people focus on protecting the turtle nests that 'CAN' be protected and that they have permission to do so. As tough as it is not to be able to preserve all nests, nature does have its own set of checks and balances that are to be respected, and part of this includes turtle eggs having a role in sustaining other species.
HOW TO MAKE A NEST PROTECTOR
https://thinkturtleconservationinitiative.wordpress.com/2022/03/30/how-to-make-a-nest-protector/
WHERE TO BUY TURTLE NEST PROTECTORS
(11) SURPRISE
Being realistic, sometimes turtles do not nest at ideal times; knowing all of the above does not change the fact that here you are, it's 8 pm, and a turtle has nested on your property, and you do not have a nest protector or the materials to make one. We get to hear of people under such circumstances resorting to DIY methods for protecting turtle nests, sometimes just for the night, other times for the entire incubation period. One has to be very careful about what one uses. Turtle nests are living, breathing entities, and if unsuitable nest protection measures are used without meaning to, a nest deprived of sun, moisture, or air can be harmed or killed. There are MNRF requirements to meet for a reason.
Resorting to a bit of MacGyvering, we have a trick for getting a turtle nest through the night until you can purchase a nest protector or make one. Don't laugh! Most everyone has a stove, meaning oven racks are readily available and an easy temporary fix. How so? Cover the nest with an oven rack and place a heavy rock on each corner. More rocks can also be added to the sides but 'do not cover the center' where the nest is. For additional backup to deter predators, if you have a spray mist bottle, fill it with undiluted white vinegar and spray the area around the nest, oven racks, rocks, and surrounding area. If you saw the path the turtle left by, spray that as well. Many a nest has made it through the night using this wee trick.
If you have any questions or concerns about a turtle or nest, please phone or text Think Turtle Conservation Initiative at 647-606-9537 when you are with the turtle or nest. For additional information about helping turtles, we have a variety of platforms for you to choose from—check out our other web pages at www.thinkturtle.ca, follow us on Facebook, or read our WordPress Blog posts at https://thinkturtleconservationinitiative.wordpress.com.
Thank you for being a friend to the turtles and helping protect Ontario's species at risk, and their habitat.
Snapping Turle just finished nesting.