Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A coworker of mine told me that on Tuesday 6/24/03 she watched as a turtle dug a whole and laid eggs. She knew enough not to disturb the little mom-to-be. After talking to her and showing her pictures, I deciced that it most likely was a Eastern Painted turtle (or a Red-Bellied).

She showed me where the nest is, and I have to say that it is close to the edge of the grass near the parking lot where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic as well as constant landscaping.

We have had a lot of rain lately so the ground was most likely soft at the time, but now the surrounding area is hard.

My question is...What should I do? It is quite a distance from the nest to water (about 90 yards). I don't want to disturb the nest, but i want the little guys to have a chance.

I would make a sign and put it on a steak to put in the ground near the nest. Say something like, "Please be cautious and do not disturb. Nest underground." I don't know something like that. There was a duck around here that laid her eggs in the bushes in front of a business and they put up a sign saying not to disturb the nesting mother or something like that. The workers fed the duck and watched out for her and the people that went to that business did not bother the mother duck. I don't know what to do after they hatch.

your best bet is to just leave it be. On the plus side, the traffic in the area will likely deter predators that dig up nests (skunks and raccoons). Painted turtles will travel a long ways to lay eggs and the babies have to find their way to water over that distance, but nature has shown us that the species survives well this way.

I'd just see if you can find out who does the landscaping and ask them not to touch that area for 3 months. After that it should not matter if the nest was vacated. If in your climate they are overwintering, you would want the spot left alone until spring of next year.

heh...not to be pessimistic, but i think a "nest underground" sign kinda signals to people who want turtles/are just curious to dig it up...

better to dig it up yourself or just let it be.