Shelled Survivors: Protecting Michigan's Native Turtles

Among the many fascinating reptiles found throughout our natural world, some of the most unique (not to mention adorable) are turtles! Turtles can be found in many wetlands and their surrounding areas, even in our own backyards here in Michigan. If you’ve spent much time around lakes or ponds, you’ve probably come across the very common painted turtle, or perhaps some of Michigan’s various other species. Our native species here include the painted turtle, spotted turtle, red-eared slider, and even the notorious common snapping turtle. Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy works to support and protect these fascinating animals throughout our managed lands.

Painted turtle. Photo by Theresa Ray

Turtles are part of the group of animals known as reptiles, which means that they are cold blooded, and covered in scaly skin. Turtles are unique among reptiles for their incredible shells. While many animals (us included) have a home or territory that they hang around, turtles carry their homes with them on their backs! These shells can also help turtles by protecting them from predators. Some turtles, namely box turtles, can even close up their shells for even more protection. But they can’t ever leave their shells: they’re part of the turtles’ skeletons!

Turtles live in wet areas, in and around various bodies of water like lakes and ponds, spending a large portion of their lives in the water. However, although you might think otherwise, they actually can’t breathe in the water. They can also travel quite far when looking for new territory, so don’t be surprised if you find one on dry land! They are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and other animals. Their diets include a wide variety of foods, such as berries, seeds, insects, small arthropods, and even small fish. They also lay eggs! Many species dig nests in the ground to lay them in. Look carefully at areas of land near wetlands, and you may be able to spot a turtle nest.

Common snapping turtle basking on a log. Photo by Theresa Ray.

Turtles are highly important animals to any ecosystem they are found in. They are what is known as an indicator species, which means that how well or poorly their populations are doing is a good way to tell how healthy their whole ecosystem is. As with all animals, they have an important role within their food chain. As predators, they help to regulate the populations of the insects, fish, and other animals that they eat, and as prey they provide a food source for animals like raccoons, foxes, snakes, and more. When turtle populations decline, the bugs they eat can become far too numerous without the turtles to eat them, and the animals that eat turtles can suffer without one of their food sources. Turtles are also important as seed dispersers. When turtles eat plants, they can help to spread the seeds to other areas, allowing new plants to grow! In fact, Box turtles are one of the main dispersers of Mayapple seeds, a very important plant in Michigan.

Of the species of turtles that live in Michigan, one of the most fascinating ones often goes forgotten: the Blanding’s turtle. This turtle is a medium-sized species found in much of the Great Lakes basin, and is easily recognizable by its bright yellow chin. The Blanding’s turtle is becoming increasingly rare throughout much of its native range, including Michigan, but it can still be found here! Blanding’s turtles are most active in the warmer months, especially during their mating season in April-May, and when the females nest in June. They have a fairly standard diet for turtles, eating a variety of invertebrates and fish, as well as berries and vegetables. It is also a very shy turtle, and would much rather run away from people than bite: it rarely tries to bite even when picked up! But, as friendly as it may seem, Blanding’s turtle is happiest when left alone by humans.

Blanding's Turtle. Photo by Theresa Ray

Sadly, the Blanding’s turtle is threatened in most of its habitat, and all turtles face a wide range of threats in the modern day. Habitat loss is harming many turtle populations by reducing the areas they can call home, and habitat fragmentation makes it difficult for them to move around. Turtles are frequently killed by cars as they attempt to cross roads to find new habitats. Blanding’s turtles are especially threatened by this, since they need very large habitats to thrive, and often travel long distances which require them to cross roads. To make things even harder for Blanding’s turtles, they are very slow to breed, which makes losing adults extra harmful to their populations.

Many turtles also suffer from issues like low water quality in their habitats due to rising pollution, increasing pressure from climate change, and illegal harvesting for food, or for their shells. Turtles are also commonly traded as pets, adding further pressure to their wild populations. The Blanding’s turtle is only one of many species suffering from these problems. Because of such threats, and more, turtles are one of the most widely endangered groups of animals on the planet, second only to primates. In fact, over half of all turtle species are considered threatened.

With so many species of turtles threatened today, things may look bleak. But there are lots of ways that you can get involved to help your local turtle populations! For instance, helping to conserve the wetland areas they need to survive is a great way to help protect turtles. If you see a turtle crossing the road, and you can do so safely, you can also help it cross! But make sure you help it move in the direction it was already going. Turtles know where they want to go, and if moved back the way they came, they might just turn around and try to cross the road again. Another way you can help is to protect nests from predators! You can do this by placing a turtle protector over any nests you find. (Instructions to make a turtle protector can be found here: https://www.blueheronheadwaters.org/turtleprotector) This is an especially great way to help the Blanding’s turtle, or other threatened species. 

Speaking of which, another way you can help is to learn to recognize endangered turtles. Michigan has 4 threatened species: the Blanding’s turtle (recognized by its bright yellow neck), the Eastern Box turtle (dark brown or black, with orange or yellow patterns), the Spotted turtle (grey or black shell with small yellow dots), and the Wood turtle (grayish brown, bumpy shell with black or yellow lines).

Finally, and most importantly: never take wild turtles home as pets! They may be cute, but they belong in nature, not in our houses. It’s more important than ever now to protect these incredible animals, so get involved today to help your local turtles!