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Photo Credit: Clark Shiffer

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: The bog turtle is among the smallest North American turtles. Adults are four to 4 1/2 inches long. The upper shell is dark brown with yellow to orange markings and covered with ridged plates that are eventually worn smooth; the lower shell is dark brown or black, sometimes with scattered light markings. A large red-orange or yellow blotch behind each eye is the most conspicuous color feature of an otherwise brown body lightly marked with orange or yellow.

BIOLOGY-NATURAL HISTORY: Mating takes place in May and early June. Each female then digs a nest and lays a clutch of three to five eggs during June or July. Eggs receive no parental care, and hatchlings leave the nest several months later. Adults and young feed on a variety of plant and animal food, such as berries, insects and even carrion. They do not wander far from hibernating sites in spring seepage, which they leave in April or May and return to in late summer. Summer hibernation (aestivation) may occur during July and August; individuals are otherwise encountered basking on sedge tussocks or moving slowly about in spring runs under concealing vegetation. When danger threatens, individuals burrow rapidly into the mucky bottom of spring runs.

PREFERRED HABITAT: Bog turtles live in relatively open portions of sphagnum bogs, swamps or marshy meadows with slow moving, spring fed streams or spring runs with soft bottoms.

REASONS FOR BEING ENDANGERED: The primary reason for the bog turtle's status is the draining or other destruction of its habitat. Because bog turtles have always been considered the rarest of North American turtles, they are highly valued by turtle fanciers in this country, and possibly twice as much overseas. Many, therefore, have been illegally removed for commercial purposes. Since their habitats are widely separated, other turtles are not likely to move in and replace those removed.

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: Informal agreements concerning the continued occurrence of the turtles have been made with owners of private property where bog turtles exist. Field surveys have determined the status of historical and new sites. Also, permit review and commentary concerning public use projects where bog turtle habitat is involved is ongoing.

Invertebrates | Birds & Mammals | Fish, Reptiles & Amphibians | Plants