This afternoon, I was cleaning out the skimmer filter net in my backyard pond, and I found two baby turtles hanging out inside. I was able to grab one for a photo op, and after a few minutes in my hand, he (or she) got brave enough to walk around. A friend of mine just told me it's an Eastern Woodlands Slider. He's welcome in my pond for now (until he's big enough to start eating my koi) and I'm just delighted I had a chance to see this tiny little visitor!
5 comments:
Hi Jam - how do you keep your koi from getting eaten by raccoons & herons?
Elizabeth - I usually have to net my pond. I have had a long standing struggle with an evil heron, but I netted the last two years and I think it forgot about me (at least for now). I did have a brand new fish completely disappear last week after having it for only two days, but nothing since then. I've found that the black garden netting you would use to cover blueberries or other fruit plants works just as well as the "pond netting" you can buy, and for half the price. It's basically the same stuff. If you can elevate the netting above the surface of the pond (using stakes to prop it up) then the net doesn't interfere with the flow of the pond water. It looks ridiculous, but then you don't lose your fish either. Good Luck!
2011 Is the Year of the Turtle. Article from spring 2011 issue of "The Habitat" newsletter of www.caciwc.org -
DEP to Increase Awareness of Turtle Conservation in Connecticut
"Turtles are in trouble. Because of the issues surrounding turtles and the need to raise awareness, Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC), of which the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been a member since 1999, has proclaimed 2011 as the Year of the Turtle. " to read the whole article it is available here:
http://www.caciwc.org/library/habitat/Habitat%2011%20Spring_4-29.pdf
How cute! Not sure the identification is correct. Here is a handy link to the DEP site which in addition to info about The Year of the Turtle also has a list of all Connecticut turtle species.
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=473472&depNav_GID=1655
"The Habitat" newsletter brought a loathsome practice to my attention: that "over harvesting" is a threat to turtles! And goes on to outline the reason for "harvesting" turtles. Happily some of Connecticut's turtles are protected by law from any kind of "harvesting". Pity those that are not offered this status because they may be "harvested" for "food, medicines and pets." Do we really want to allow killing turtles for food? Are there really medical uses for turtles? Perhaps it is time to update the "harvesting" regulations of Connecticut's native turtles and look closely at who might be receiving the benefits from these questionable practices. Now, in the Year of the Turtle seems a good opportunity!
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