Some local turtles
There are eight turtle species which you could encounter in our region. I have observed six of these species. I'll give you a little information on three of the more common ones: the midland painted turtle, the eastern box turtle and the wood turtle.
Turtles all have two distinct shells. The carapace is the top shell and is usually used in identifying the turtle species. The plastron is the lower shell. Turtles don't rely on speed to escape predation, as you most likely know; they are able to retract legs, tail and head inside their bony covering.The midland painted turtle (I'll reference it as a painted turtle) is common in ponds, canals and other slow-moving bodies of water. If you have walked the D&L trail along the Lehigh Canal you most likely have seen them basking (sitting in the sun) on a log or stream bank.They apparently have good eyesight because they don't allow you to get too close before slipping back into the water. Beltzville cove areas and the upper reaches of Mauch Chunk Reservoir hold numbers of painted turtles.Painted turtles spend most of their lives in water where as younger turtles they eat small animals and plants. As they mature, they feed more exclusively on plants. They do venture from the water to lay their leathery eggs, placing them in a shallow hole they dig. Most turtle species choose loose gravelly soil (railroad beds seem to be a preference) close to their aquatic home. Most species' eggs take about 80 days to hatch. Unfortunately, about 90 percent of turtles' nests are discovered by raccoons, skunks and opossums which are the biggest population-limiting factors. Most species choose to bury the eggs on a southern exposure to allow the sun's warmth to hatch the eggs quicker. There is no maternal care of the eggs and young. After laying her eggs, the female returns to the water, allowing nature to take its course.The eastern box turtle is one of the most commonly seen. Their carapace is rather high and domed and may appear more tortoiselike. The box turtleis very terrestrial, often roaming quite a distance from the pond or stream bank where it hibernated. Besides the higher carapace, you can identify these by the plastron that is hinged, allowing the front half to curl up and offer better protection to the front legs, neck and head. A predator finds it almost impossible to pry open. They too lay eggs, usually in loose soil or mulch. Box turtles feed on small animals and some plants/fruits. They and all turtles have no teeth, but have sharp, beaklike jaws to grab and bite food. The box turtles and all the turtles living in Pennsylvania are most vulnerable shortly after hatching from the egg. Turtles are only active about half of a year and can live 30, 40 or 50 years.The wood turtleis also terrestrial but regularly returns to small streams. I have seen them in Bull Run, Lizard Creek, and Sawmill Creek, but they also spend a great deal of time looking for food on the forest floor or field edges. It is omnivorous (eats plants and animals) but really favors strawberries, blueberries, wood sorrel leaves, etc. It has geometric sculptured patterns on its carapace with reddish-orange legs and a much flatter shell than the box turtle. Fairly large, the carapace may reach 8 inches. Other than a snapping turtle, this is our largest local turtle.Test your knowledge: Most are familiar with the fable, "The Tortoise and the Hare." Is the term "hare" actually just another name for a rabbit?Answer to last week's question: The great crested flycatcher, a fairly common bird of our local forests and woodlots, nests in tree cavities. For some unknown reason it almost always includes a shed snake skin in its nest. (They may substitute a man-made similar material such as cellophane) The best guess is it may deter another nest predator from their eggs/young.Contact Barry Reed at