Let's start with not running them over with your car or lawn mower, and then more
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| Photo Tyler DeVos |
In southern New England, Eastern box turtles and other species of native turtles lay eggs in early summer, after becoming more active and sometimes crossing trails and roads, beginning in May.
While watching for
turtles on roadways during the summer months is one important way to preserve
local turtle populations, New Englanders can help protect native turtles
year-round with increased awareness.
At URI, conservation biologist Nancy Karraker focuses
primarily on the consequences of environmental change for reptiles and
amphibians. She has examined the impacts of habitat loss and degradation,
pollution, climate change, invasive species, and disease on biodiversity in
North America and Southeast Asia, and consults and collaborates across the
country and around the world.
Her work is applied science, she says.
“It’s not enough to say, ‘watch out for turtles on roads,’”
she says, “though we do want people to do that.”
Though erroneously considered slow travelers, all turtles move through a home range that can be miles in diameter and can be analyzed for areas of risk or safety. Karraker and her students employ standard wildlife surveys and use technology to see where turtles move to better assess and plan safe buffer zones for populations. Her lab has worked with the Department of Environmental Management to help improve prospects for Eastern box turtles, wood turtles, and spotted turtles, all species of concern in Rhode Island.
In addition to fast-moving cars, another risk to turtles is
people who are interested in them, for less positive purposes.
Leading students in class research projects à la Law
& Order: Reptile Edition, Karraker has had students
research the illegal pet trade throughout the U.S. All native turtles
are protected in Rhode Island and captures of local turtles are illegal.
Popular animal ID or wildlife apps that provide exact locations can lead
wildlife poachers to turtle locations observed in the wild. These turtles may
then be captured from forests and streams to be sold into the lucrative, but
illegal, wildlife trade.
Karraker notes that community science applications and some
social media groups celebrate nature and encourage people to enjoy the outdoors
but can inadvertently contribute to poaching, as native species are coveted as
pets here and abroad, with Asia and Europe being frequent destinations.
In addition to turtles, Chris Thawley, Rhode Island’s state
herpetologist with the Department of Environmental Management and a former URI
post-doc and instructor, says that most wetlands in Rhode Island contain
amphibians to look out — and listen — for, with tadpoles still present in many
ponds at this time of year. He says that walks at night, especially in rainy
weather, allow people to easily hear different species of frog calls.
If you want to enjoy reptile life closer to home, Karraker
suggests purchasing species such as bearded dragons or leopard geckos that are
known to be bred in captivity or adopting a pet through a reputable service
such as Petfinder.com. Be wary of
individuals offering pets for adoption that include a “rehoming fee;” these can
be people who are collecting animals from the wild and selling them.
Karraker understands the draw of turtles and similar
wildlife, after all, she’s been studying turtles and other reptiles for years;
they are the focus of her life’s work.
“They’re beautiful creatures,” she says. “I understand the
fascination, and why people want them for pets. However, we want everyone to
enjoy them and we want to see them continue to live and flourish in the wild in
their native habitats.”
Turtle catchers don’t share that goal, she says, and don’t
care if they’re taking the last one: “Once that last individual is gone, that
species no longer exists in the wild. When we lose them, they are gone
forever.”
Turtle-friendly tips
In addition to social media safeguards to protect reptiles
and amphibians, Karraker is glad to see support for wetland regulation in
southern New England and applauds work done by the state to establish
turtle-crossing zones and increase awareness on local roadways. This awareness
received a boost from Karraker’s graduate student Noah Hallisey (M.S. ’21) who
created a model
to predict hotspots of reptile/amphibian road mortality.
Rhode Island’s urbanization is a challenge for the state’s
turtle populations. Even in rural areas, like East Greenwich, turtles can find
it hard to exist due to the loss of large patches of forest, high densities of
roads, and heavily-manicured yards, where the use of fertilizer and pesticides
can put turtle populations at risk.
“Roads are a death sentence for turtles and many other
species of wildlife,” Karraker says.
Karraker notes that in the western part of the state, thanks
to Burlingame and Arcadia state parks, about a quarter of Rhode Island is
protected or semi-protected. The busy trail of cars heading to the western part
of the state on summer weekends means Rhode Islanders are appreciating and
enjoying the state’s wild places but the gravel roads that cross these natural
areas also mean risk for small animals crossing those roadways.
Karraker says there are things New Englanders can do at any
time of year: “If you see a reptile or amphibian crossing the road and it’s
safe to do, help by picking it up and moving it off the road in the direction
it was going.” Karraker keeps a small shovel in her car for just that reason. A
snapping turtle will also snap at a stick and can then be dragged to safety but
only if you feel safe in doing so.
She cautions on the risks of using road salt and pesticides,
which can harm many species of wildlife including frog tadpoles and salamander
larvae.
Karraker recognizes the need for a pragmatic approach and
says she grapples in her own daily life with the challenges of supporting both
wildlife and human needs.
“It sometimes seems like a giant mountain to think of all
the things we need to do, I know,” she says. “I try to be more mindful in how I
live. You could pick reducing plastics or avoiding pesticides in your yard and
salts on your sidewalk. You might be more careful in how you treat pests or
plant a pollinator garden at your house: just pick two or three things to just
do really well. Every little bit helps.”
