The Forestry Forum
Outdoor topics => The Outdoor Board => Topic started by: Magicman on October 01, 2024, 09:08:35 AM
On July 10th I noticed:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/IMG_6663~0.JPG) (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=355906)
This Box Turtle covering an egg deposit. I put a spot of paint on the brick so that I could find it and watch what would happen.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/IMG_6662~1.JPG) (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=355907)
This morning I noticed a hole beside the painted brick so I know that there is at least one baby Box Turtle somewhere. ffsmiley
I got the flashlight and took a look. I can see a partially covered white shell but I do not know whether it is an unhatched egg or the empty shell from the one that escaped. I'll keep a watch to see what happens but I am not going to disturb anything.
I have snapping turtles that lay eggs down in the gravel by the brook.
Every year they do this. At least 2-3 a year. Then something comes in and eats the eggs.
Racoons are great nest robbers, they would be my first guess to rob the turtle nest!
There is no activity in my nest since yesterday, but I will keep watching.
This may be a good time to repost the YouTube video that I made a few years ago of a turtle laying eggs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vou8FRnLFs
It's amazing that they do all of the digging and covering with their hind legs. When they finish, they don't look at it, just crawl off.
I found this little guy this morning and wondered if it was from the nest:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/IMG_6806.JPG) (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=356457)
But it does not have a "front door" flap so it is not a box turtle. I am thinking that from the ridges on it's back, long tail, and large head it is a "Loggerhead" Alligator Snapping Turtle.
Kinda looks like a snapping turtle!