Quarter and the turtle

[pepperj]

This little one was heading towards the bay.
Almost stepped on it, blended in with the limestone.

 

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[Ohiogoldfever]

Cute little buggers at that size.

 

[pepperj]

Cute little buggers at that size.

It still had a long trek so the Mrs walked down the hill to our dock.
It was great to watch it just sat on the rock, then it was full on swimming.

 

[Louie D]

I'll bet birds and other predators snack on a large percentage of them before they can reach the water.

 

[pepperj]

I'll bet birds and other predators snack on a large percentage of them before they can reach the water.

It's still too early for the laying of eggs around these parts(June), so I'm guessing this one is last years lay and just making the trip back to the water now.
They have nested in the field, which is 50 ft in elevation and a good 500ft from the bay. Survival rate is pretty low in the species as it take decades to just to be mature enough.

Then there are the turtle poppers out in this world-on the scale of grey matter the turtle has more, the poppers feel inferior, so they have to run them over.

 

[No gold in NY]

This one must have a few years on him. Had to be half that size at hatching. Glad your Mrs. helped it to the water. I know of a popper in my area. Says he runs over any turtle he sees in the road. Can't say any more. Could be considered political.

 

[pepperj]

This one must have a few years on him. Had to be half that size at hatching. Glad your Mrs. helped it to the water. I know of a popper in my area. Says he runs over any turtle he sees in the road. Can't say any more. Could be considered political.

We had a white rice burner go past on the road-stopped backed up, took off again adjusting the take off on the gravel the Mrs said to me one time. Later when I went down to the dock across the road was why they did what they did.
I have the contempt and pleasure of watching in my mind that white rice burner getting munched by a large semi truck-when that becomes a peace of mind I will know that it got what was justified in my mind.
Totally useless any need to do such things on purpose.

The highlight of the day was the Mrs took a video of the little one swimming in and around the shore/ like it was a it's first swim at last, it looked so happy.

 

[Megalodon]

I'll bet birds and other predators snack on a large percentage of them before they can reach the water.

Some do but the life stage with the very highest mortality is the egg. I was part of several research studies that found mortality as high as 100% on some nesting beaches. They lay during the day and predators, mostly raccoons, but also foxes and crows, usually take most on the first evening/night. Lower predation occurred when it rained shortly after eggs were deposited, suggesting the predators smell the fluids on the eggs and the rain dilutes the scent. I always wanted to sprinkle some old spices on a fresh nest to try to hide the scent.

 

[Megalodon]

It's still too early for the laying of eggs around these parts(June), so I'm guessing this one is last years lay and just making the trip back to the water now.
They have nested in the field, which is 50 ft in elevation and a good 500ft from the bay. Survival rate is pretty low in the species as it take decades to just to be mature enough.

Then there are the turtle poppers out in this world-on the scale of grey matter the turtle has more, the poppers feel inferior, so they have to run them over.

I always stop and help turtles across roads. Before I retired, I had to allow extra time in the morning after a night time rain because that would bring out the turtles and take me some extra time to find suitable habitat in their home range. Sometimes, I would still be a little late and my supervisor would ask "How many did you save this morning?" Some species can live long lives if they don't get run over.

 

[Megalodon]

It's still too early for the laying of eggs around these parts(June), so I'm guessing this one is last years lay and just making the trip back to the water now.
They have nested in the field, which is 50 ft in elevation and a good 500ft from the bay. Survival rate is pretty low in the species as it take decades to just to be mature enough.

Then there are the turtle poppers out in this world-on the scale of grey matter the turtle has more, the poppers feel inferior, so they have to run them over.

While it is possible this little fellow could have overwintered as an egg and hatched over the first warm days of spring, I think it is more likely that he hatched in the nest late last fall, remained in the nest over the winter, hibernating until emerging this spring. They also have a sort of anti-freeze compound in their blood that helps do this.

 

[pepperj]

While it is possible this little fellow could have overwintered as an egg and hatched over the first warm days of spring, I think it is more likely that he hatched in the nest late last fall, remained in the nest over the winter, hibernating until emerging this spring. They also have a sort of anti-freeze compound in their blood that helps do this.

That I didn't know that could happen, and a very cool thing to know. Thanks for sharing and your caring of the turtles.

We try to protect the nesting sites along the road when we come across them.
It seems that the grader does its work right after the laying.
Though if the guy sees them, he'll go around the nests.
It seems that the turtles lay in many different locals on the property, garden, the field which are a long hike of the water or creek.