Everything you need to know about protecting turtle nests
June is what we consider peak nesting season in Kingston. This is the month you are likely to see a nesting turtle. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know to protect a turtle nest!
We protect turtle nests to prevent predation! Predator populations have been increased around humans and as a result more nests are being predated than would normally occur.
You’ve Found a Nesting Turtle
If you find a turtle on land it will likely be for one of the following reasons: looking for a mate, moving within its habitat, searching for a nesting site.
Prior to June it was more likely you were seeing male turtles searching for a mate. Now that June is here it is more likely the turtles you are seeing are female and searching for a nesting site.
Did you know that female turtles return to the same location to nest each year?
In many instances you will not know that a turtle is attempting to nest until they start digging. Help mother turtles by:
giving them space
helping them safely cross the road in the direction they were headed
protecting their nest
Once a mother turtle has started nesting it is very important that you give her space (5-10 m) as she may spook easily - resulting in her abandoning nesting and potentially threatening her life or the life of her babies.
If you are able, watch and wait for the mother turtle to finish nesting. This could be 30 - 60 min or even longer.
As you patiently wait we recommend taking many photos (from a distance) so that after the mother turtle has left you will be able to identify the location of the nest. Be sure to note specific vegetation or debris markers that will help you locate where the centre of the nesting mother was.
A nesting turtle will dig a hole to lay her eggs. This nest is located underneath the centre of the turtle, not behind her tail
Mother Turtle is Done Nesting, Now What?
Following nesting, the mother turtle will be exhausted and may show uncoordinated, slow, and jerky movements. She may even move in the opposite direction that she wants to travel in, with the purpose of making a loop to head in her intended direction. As a result, you must pay close attention and give the turtle time to make its movements.
If near a road, she may head towards the road, don’t take immediate action. Be patient and wait to see whether she turns herself around with an arched turn to head back to the water on the same side of the road. Watch from a distance of 10 meters but be ready to respond if necessary.
While you wait, it will be important to identify the presence of a turtle to passing vehicles, so we recommend placing one or two safety cones to indicate to oncoming traffic that there is a nesting turtle. Make sure that these cones are at least 20 feet away from the turtle.
The rule of thumb ‘to always move a turtle in the direction they are going’ can be confusing in this situation when the female is making an arched turn. However, if she does give clear indication that she wants to cross the road by passing over the white line and heading directly across the road, then intervene and carry her across when it is safe to do so.
If near a road, a mother turtle may move towards the road as she makes an arch to turn herself. Before intervening, be sure to watch and make sure it is her intention to move across the road.
What Are Test Nests
Once the mother turtle has left you can now approach the turtle nest and place a nest protection box to prevent predation.
Before protecting the turtle nest be sure it isn't a test nest. Turtles will occasionally start digging a nest, but then for some reason they will abandon the nest without laying their eggs (perhaps they decided it wasn't an acceptable location after all).
A test nest will still appear to be a hole in the ground. See image below.
Nesting turtles are very good at hiding their nests by returning the sand/gravel/mulch back to where it was. Thus, if you do not see the turtle actively nesting it is near impossible to locate a turtle nest. This is why it is very important to take pictures so that you can identify where the nest is located and place the nesting box in the correct location.
It is important that you NEVER EVER attempt to remove the top layer of sediment from a nest to confirm there are eggs. This is in fact illegal. Although you mean well, you could accidentally kill the hatchling turtles by injuring the egg or by moving/rotating the egg.
Never dig into a turtle nest to confirm there are eggs as you may accidentally kill the hatchlings. This requires training and permits.
Did you know that turtles may dig a 'test nest' but not lay eggs. If the nest hasn't been filled back in with sediment (i.e. it still has a hole) it is likely a test nest and does not have eggs in it.
How to Protect the Nest
After you have confirmed the nest is not a test nest you can install your nest protector / nesting box. This box will protect the nest from predation but still allow rain and sunlight in (via the mesh top) and allow the hatchlings to exit (via the side holes).
You can purchase nest protectors from Turtles Kingston via our Turtle Store or at Potter's Nurseries. You can also build a nest protector with instructions on our website.
When installing the nest protector anchor it to the ground with 3-4 galvanized spikes. It is useful to have a hammer to help secure the spikes. Be sure that they are anchored pointing away from the centre of the nest so you do not accidentally drive one into the eggs.
Protecting nests on your property is easy. There are more considerations for protecting nests on public property - check out our blog post to learn more.
You can protect turtle nests on your private property but you must obtain permission from the land owner of any public properties.
Nests that cannot be protected
There are going to be situations where a turtle nest cannot be protected. For example, you cannot protect a turtle nest in the gravel shoulder of a road and this is a favourite nesting spot for turtles.
So, what can you do? Well, unfortunately there is nothing you can do if the nest is not at risk of being dug up. Instead you can focus your efforts protecting nests in locations that can have a nest protector. It is unfortunately a fact we have to accept, that we cannot save all the turtles.
Now, if the nest is in a hazardous location where it is likely to be destroyed then it can be rescued!
Turtles Kingston has a new nest rescue program where we offer our experience to save these nests in hazardous locations.
It is important to remember that not anyone can rescue a turtle nest. You need both specific training, experience, and permits otherwise you could actually cause more harm than good.
If you think you have a nest that it in a hazardous location please contact us at turtleskingston@gmail.com before taking any action.
It is illegal to alter a turtle nest. To rescue nests you need specific training, experience, and permits otherwise you could do more harm than good.
How long to leave nest protectors on
Once you've placed a nest protector over a turtle nest we recommend leaving it until March the following year. Why is this?
Some turtles (midland painted turtles and northern map turtles) will hatch but then overwinter in their nests. This means the turtle hatchlings will emerge from their nests after winter between March and June the following year.
If protecting turtle nests on your own property you can easily leave the nest protectors where they are. However, if you have received permission to protect a turtle nest on public property it is likely you will have to remove the nest protector in the autumn - and this is ok.
Obviously, removing the nest protector prior to the hatchlings emerging may result in the nest being predated, but there is some evidence that nests are primarily predated in the first days after being laid.
If you know the turtle nest you have protected is not a painted or map turtle then you can remove the nest protector after the hatchlings have emerged.
How do you know the hatchlings have emerged?
If you are lucky, you will have seen some of the hatchlings leaving the nest! If you weren't around for this then you can tell the hatchlings have emerged as there will be a small hole in the soil.
This hole isn't always visible, so we recommend leaving all nest protectors on until at least October.
NEVER dig down into the nest to see if there are still eggs or hatchlings left. This is illegal! The turtles will come out when they are ready and if they plan to overwinter in their nest this can actually kill them!
Never expose a nest in an attempt to see if there are still hatchlings in it. This is illegal and can hurt or even kill the turtles. They will emerge when they are ready and could even be the following spring.
Submitting Data
Help with further turtle conservation efforts by submitting your turtle encounters. There are several ways you can do so including: