Turtle Eggs!

There are 5 species of turtles in the Kingston area that you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of during the nesting season. They are the Blanding's Turtle, Northern Map Turtle, Midland Painted Turtle, Common Snapping Turtle, and the Eastern Musk Turtle. All native turtles in Ontario are protected species, which means it is illegal to disturb their nests or handle their eggs. Turtle eggs are very sensitive and positional, so handling them can kill the embryo! While all the above species generally lay their eggs around the same time of year, incubation periods can vary depending on the species and even the weather!

Northern Map Turtle laying eggs. Several “test” holes can be seen.

Common Snapping Turtle hatchling emerging from the nest.

With many turtles, the incubation temperature will determine the sex of the hatchlings. This determination happens very soon after the eggs are laid. Generally, male hatchlings are a result of cooler temperatures and female hatchlings are a result of warmer temperatures. It’s possible for the eggs at the top of the nest to be female and the eggs at the bottom of the nest to be male! The incubation period can range from 60 to 90 days with warmer temperatures in the nest leading to a shorter incubation period.

Many turtles will make their nests close to the water bodies that they live in but some species, like the Blanding’s Turtle and the Snapping Turtle, may travel up to 2.5 kilometers away from water in search of the perfect nesting site! It can take several hours for a turtle to find an ideal nest site, and around an hour for them to dig a hole and lay their eggs. So don’t be surprised if you see a turtle seemingly far from home, they are likely looking for a nest site and should not be disturbed!

Turtles are easily startled and may abandon their nest without laying their eggs if they feel threatened. This can lead to the eggs being expelled in water or the mother being unable to expel her eggs at all, which is often fatal.

If you are ever unsure whether a turtle or their nest is in danger, reach out to us at Turtles Kingston! Email questions to turtleskingston@gmail.com

OR

If you have an urgent situation please call: Sandy Pines at 613-354-0264 or the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre at 705-741-5000.

The Blanding's Turtle

Blanding’s Turtle searching for a nest site.

The Blanding's Turtle is currently listed as a species that is threatened, both provincially and federally. They sexually mature at 14 years of age and will nest between late May and July. Blanding’s Turtles are sometimes known to nest every other year. They lay 4 to 13 eggs in a single clutch with hatchlings emerging in the fall. Incubation lasts 60 to 90 days. The Blanding’s Turtle often uses the gravel shoulder of roadways for their nest site, preferring sparsely vegetated, sunny areas. Eggs are oval, dull white with a hard shell, and are 2.8 to 4.1 cm long.

Blanding’s Turtle eggs. Turtle eggs should never be moved by untrained individuals, this action requires an MNRF permit. Photo courtesy of the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

The Northern Map Turtle

Northern Map Turtle basking on a rock.

The Northern Map Turtle is currently listed as a species of special concern. They take at least 10 years to sexually mature and will nest from May to early July. A single clutch contains 7 to 23 eggs that will hatch in the fall, but frequently, hatchlings will overwinter in the nest chamber - meaning they will emerge from their nests in the spring. Their preferred nesting site is soil, gravel or sand near lakes and rivers. The incubation period is 60 to 90 days. Eggs are oval, dull white, with a soft, thin shell. They measure 3.2 to 3.7 cm long.

Northern Map Turtle eggs. Photo courtesy of the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Northern Map Turtle hatchlings emerging from the egg. Photo courtesy of James Harding.

The Midland Painted Turtle

Midland Painted Turtle peeking around a log.

The Midland Painted Turtle is currently listed as a species of special concern. They sexually mature in 6 to 10 years with a nesting season from late May to early July. They will lay anywhere from 3 to 15 eggs in a single clutch. They frequently nest in lawns and farmer’s fields close to water sources. Incubation lasts 60 to 90 days. Like the Northern Map Turtle, hatchlings can emerge in the fall or overwinter in the nest chamber - meaning they will emerge from their nests in the spring. Eggs are oval, white, and flexible, measuring 2.4 to 3.6 cm long.

Midland Painted Turtle eggs in the nest chamber.

The Snapping Turtle

Snapping Turtle basking on a log.

The Common Snapping Turtle is listed as a species of special concern. They take 17 to 19 years to reach sexual maturity and will nest from late May to early July. While 20 to 50 eggs are common, incredibly, they can lay up to 104 eggs in a single clutch! Incubation lasts 80 to 90 days with hatchlings emerging in the fall. While most turtle eggs are oval shaped, Snapping Turtles lay round eggs. Their eggs are white, firm but pliable, and 2.3-3.6 cm in diameter. They often make their nests on the gravel shoulders of roadways or in aggregate pits. Their preferred nesting material is sand, gravel, organic soils, or woodchips.

This image was taken by our trained experts while carefully removing Snapping Turtle eggs from an unsafe nest site. Egg removal requires a permit from the MNRF, turtle eggs should never be moved by untrained individuals as the embryo likely won’t survive.

The Eastern Musk Turtle

Eastern Musk Turtle basking on a rock.

The Eastern Musk Turtle, also known as the Stinkpot, is currently listed as a species of special concern. Compared to other turtles, they reach sexual maturity relatively quickly, in only 3 to 4 years. They lay only 2 to 5 eggs per clutch, nesting from May to early July. The Eastern Musk Turtle typically lays their eggs in a shallow nest close to water, sometimes underneath logs, in grasses, or even on the open ground. Incubation lasts 60 to 90 days with hatchlings emerging from their shells in the fall. Eggs are oval, white, and hard, appearing shiny when dry. They measure 1.8 to 3.1 cm long.

Eastern Musk Turtle eggs in a shallow nest.