Herp Update: Toad Tadpoles, Female Turtles Nesting, Needed Reports – May 30, 2024
Recent Herp Activity
We have received the first report of American Toad tadpoles hatched out and on the move. Kate Kelly reported them in Hinesburg. At the same time, there are still some American Toads calling and laying eggs. Gray Treefrogs continue to move to breeding locations and call and even American Bullfrogs have started calling. In fact, my granddaughter Astrid Andrews-Munson caught the first American Bullfrog ever reported from Calais.
Female Turtles on the Move
The main event right now though is all the female turtles that are now on land searching for an open, sunny, plant-free, and relatively easy digging location to dig a nest and lay their eggs. These conditions are often found on road and driveway edges, yards, or gardens near ponds and other water bodies. Keep in mind that some female turtles will travel over a mile to find a good nesting spot. Nesting season for most turtles here in Vermont runs from mid-May through mid-June. All of the many reports of turtle nesting that have come in over the last two weeks have been of three species: Painted Turtles, Snapping Turtles, and Wood Turtles. Other turtle species are laying eggs as well, but most of them either don’t travel as far away from the water, or they are just much more unusual.
If you find a turtle crossing the road, please do safely and carefully pull over and help the turtle cross the road in the direction it was heading. If you put a female turtle back in a pond, and it has not yet laid its eggs, it will just turn around and go back across the road. Any turtle can bite, but only the Snapping Turtle can do damage to your fingers. So, if the turtle has no colorful markings or stripes of any kind, assume it is a Snapping Turtle and keep your hands well away from its head. A good rule to remember is that a Snapping Turtle can reach out with their long necks about the same distance as the length of their shells. To learn how to pick up and move a large Snapping Turtle safely, check out our video on handling Snapping Turtles.
Sadly, we are also receiving reports of many dead or injured turtles on roads. We have provided information on our website on what you can do if you find an injured turtle and how to find a licensed rehabilitator that will work with injured turtles.
Eliza Merrylees got this great photo of a Painted Turtle laying eggs. Notice that Painted Turtle eggs are not round (Snapping Turtle eggs are). Also, if you are watching a nest, keep in mind that although Painted Turtles hatch in the fall, the young turtles don’t emerge from their nests until the following spring.
This photo was taken by Erin Talmage. It shows the skin of an American Toad. Some smart predators such as crows and ravens have figured out how to skin a toad. The skin has all the toxin glands in it, so they eat the body and leave the skin. Erin found this toad skin near a pond in Lincoln. Notice that the leg skin is inside out.
Kiley Briggs took this great photo of a group of Painted Turtles basking on top of Snapping Turtle. The snapper does not seem to mind.
Snapping Turtles have never been reported from any of the towns listed above. Please do keep your eyes open and camera ready for Snapping Turtles in any of the above towns. Also, I encourage you to copy and send this list to anyone you know that lives in or travels through these towns. From now until mid-June is the easiest time to find these turtles. Just watch the roads.
Painted Turtles have never been reported from any of the towns listed above. Please do keep your eyes open and camera ready for Painted Turtles in any of the above towns. Also, I encourage you to copy and send this list to anyone you know that lives in or travels through these towns. From now until mid-June is the easiest time to find these turtles. Just watch the roads.
