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Happily Bogged Down
Written By: Donna Rhodes | Issue: 2016/11 - November
The bog turtle, North America’s smallest turtle, lives right here, free as he should be, in the Western North Carolina mountains.
Gabrielle Graeter, wildlife biologist and herpetologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, is very fond of these little
reclusive critters.
“They live in a mysterious underground world. When I get to see one it is a wonderful moment,” she says.
Chances are you’ve never seen a bog turtle. An adult grows to a scant three to four inches long. Their dull, brown color, even with a dab of yellow on their necks, makes them difficult to spot. In addition, they live in a remote habitat, and they are usually buried in mud or bobbing in dark, murky waters. It’s no wonder sightings are next to impossible.
They like to sun themselves on a bright day, but not like sliders who boldly bask on a stump. Boggers stay well-hidden. They alternate between water and sun to regulate body temp. In the spring they build neatly-camouflaged nests above ground often in the sphagnum or rushes in which to lay eggs. In the winter they hibernate in the mud a few inches to a few feet below
the surface.
Bog turtles are a rare delight, but they are in danger. An estimated 80 to 90 percent of their habitat has already been lost to human encroachment. The Wildlife Commission occasionally has funds to protect important habitats but it takes years and miles of paperwork to make a purchase. In the meantime, the land can be sold to a developer and that’s that. It’s an odd thing in our state. Animals are protected by law, but their habitat is not. Go figure!
So what can you do to protect these tiny four-leggers? If you own land on which there is a bog, contact Graeter ([email protected]). She can inspect and talk to you about what animals inhabit your domain. The Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is also active in purchasing habitat. For more information about bog turtles and for an opportunity to donate towards conservation efforts with this species, check out projectbogturtle.org. Other ways to give are outlined at ncwildlife.org/Give-Donate. Visit ncwildlife.org to learn more about the amazing animals that live right in our own backyards.
