Turtle Conservation Project

Identification

The Blanding's Turtle has a smooth, highly domed black carapace with small yellow flecks. The lower jaw and throat is yellow, unlike any other New England turtle. They average 9" in length and have long necks. Females have yellow upper jaws. Males have concave plastrons and longer tails with the vent posterior of the carapace rim.

Habitats
Scrub-shrub swamps, vernal pools and other wetlands, plus woodlands as they travel.

Diet
Blanding's Turtles eat a variety of small fish, tadpoles and invertebrates ranging from insects to crayfish. Very little plant matter is eaten.

Behavior

In ways similar to Spotted Turtles, Blanding's Turtles will move between a variety of habitats including vernal pools, scrub-shrub swamps and slow streams. Considerable time is spent on land moving between locales.

Threats/Conservation
Because it can be fifteen years or more before Blanding's nest, threats to their survival are compounded.

Predators such as raccoons and foxes have been documented destroying 100% of a season's nests. Car-hits are high due to the Blanding's nomadic nature. Several states have Blanding's recovery programs in place or in development.

For detailed information about this species, we recommend Turtles of the United States and Canada by Ernst, Lovich, Barbour.

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