Entire Species List

Featured ANIMALS

Box Turtles

Timber Rattlesnakes

Coyotes

Creek Inhabitants

Streamside Salamander

Featured PLANTS

Spring Ephemerals

Old Growth

Forest Composition

Essay on woods

CONSERVATION

Ecological Corridor

Bob Brown Park

Development Planning

Radnor to River Trail

Easements

About Us

Links


TURTLE PAGES: Main Page     Background     Radio Tracking     Report Sighting    
Estimating Population Size     Lawn Mowers     Research Permit    

LAWN MOWERS

Of the ten adult females we've seen so far, five have major damage to their shells, while none of the males have such injuries. These are likely from encounters with lawn mowers when females seek out egg-laying sites in grassy openings in early summer. Sustained adult female mortality can be devastating to turtle populations. Using high cutting mowers, and avoidinig mowing during egg laying season (late spring/early summer) have helped in other communities. We're still learning about the egg laying habits of the turtles in our neighborhood, and hope that our research will provide further guidance.