In late May through June, Maine’s terrestrial turtles emerge from ponds, marshes, rivers, streams and vernal pools to lay their eggs, and then quickly return to the water. Nesting turtles can travel up to two miles to do so, and this endeavor often requires crossing roads full of cars, encounters with people, dogs, wild predators, and even construction sites full of heavy equipment.
In two to four months, when the eggs hatch and the juvenile turtles emerge from their underground nest, they make their way back to the water on their own. This innate characteristic allows them to follow the same route their mothers took. Imagine being the size of a quarter and an easy target for nearly every predator imaginable, while also navigating an urban environment to reach a wetland you’ve never seen.
Maine is home to seven species of native freshwater turtles which are an integral part of our natural heritage. Three are on the state’s list of endangered, threatened and special concern species: the wood turtle, the spotted turtle, and the Blanding’s turtle. Two species most commonly sighted are snapping and painted turtles, while the eastern musk is less common, distributed in southern and central Maine. The population status of the eastern box turtle remains an enigma. While sightings across the state do occur, all historical records may only represent escaped or liberated pet turtles. An eighth and uncommon species is the pond slider, albeit this is an exotic that has only recently been established in Maine.
Each of these species is incredibly different in appearance, habitat requirements, diet, and even behavior. They are generally long-lived and late-reproducing species, meaning that it takes 10-20 years before they reach sexual maturity. Statistically, it takes a turtle 50 years just to replace itself.
Drivers should keep an eye out for turtles crossing the road, which will appear as small, dark objects that look like hockey pucks. If safe to do so, you can pull over and move the turtle to the side of the road in the direction they were traveling. Do not relocate them to a different area or care for them by taking them home. Note that during June and July, female turtles are likely carrying eggs which may still be viable even if the adult is not, and the eggs can be incubated by a rehabber and released back into the wild. The Maine Veterinary Medical Association provides a list of licensed wildlife rehabbers, or you can contact a game warden at Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at 207-287-8000.
Learning to ID Maine’s turtles and how to handle them will aid in reducing disturbances and impacts to turtle populations that may be struggling.
Pamela Meier is the founder and director of The Turtle’s Back, Inc., a rehabilitation and education facility that has been dedicated to native turtles for ten years. Find her at theturtlesback.org.
