Posted by:
vidusa
at Tue Jul 8 09:29:22 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by vidusa ]
I know of two confirmed sites for bogs, one in MD and one in NJ. I found them in NJ but only two in my life time. I know of one in MD that is supposed to have the best population of them. I have yet to photograph any there. I'll tell you that where they are "numerous", they are extremely rare and/ or extremely hard to find. If lack of finding them is a signal of their rarity, then they are very rare even where they are common and present. I know spotted turtles are 1000% easier to find, and even they are uncommon compared to box, painted, mud, and about any other specie you can mention.
I believe bog turtles are doomed to die off in nature. The two areas I see are isolated by ubanization occuring around them, threatened from run-off, and bogs are very vulnerable to preditors like foxes, skunks, possums, raccoons, etc that are plentiful. Their habitat is not being maintained due to fire suppression (near urban areas). And urban areas prevent them from moving easily. Also, since their hard to find, I bet most go undetected by land evaluators surveying for new construction. I believe they should be removed from nature and given to proven breeders of clemmys. Then, adults may be returned to nature after a sizable population has been created and human pressure problems have been resolved.
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RE: Spotted Breeding and Bog turtles - vidusa, Tue Jul 8 09:29:22 2003