Conservation & Management – Project Bog Turtle

The following are Project Bog Turtle’s Objectives & Mission Statement.
Please see the following tabs for more details pertaining to each bullet point.

Monitor and study population densities in selected sites
Continue surveys to locate new populations and sites
Restore and implement management and restoration strategies in degraded habitat
Protect bog turtle habitat through leases, purchases, or easements
Support, educate, cooperate with, and involve landowners in bog turtle conservation
Advise, assist, and disseminate information to federal, state, and non-governmental conservation agencies.

Population Densities

Several years ago, volunteers began PIT-tagging wild-caught turtles, recording relevant data, and releasing the turtles. This provides a more efficient method of recognizing animals illegally collected, as well as tracking the growth and movements of these long-lived turtles. This is an ongoing effort, but to date over 300 individuals have been implanted.

Surveys

Inventory of both historic and currently occupied sites and of individual inhabitation of these sites has been one of the major activities of Project Bog Turtle. New sites are still being discovered. Many of the marked turtles are recaptured each year with a few new turtles also being found. The estimated population of the bog turtle in the Southeast is ca. 4,000 – 6,000 turtles based on our field work.

Radio telemetry antenna

Volunteer bogging crew

Bern measuring a turtle

Using radio telemetry

Management & Restoration

Site management is necessary in many of the wetlands, particularly ones where grazing is no longer in practice. Woody plants quickly invade sites and this succession, while natural, quickly converts active bog turtle sites to ones of minimal importance. Every year, scores of volunteers work on the restoration and management of sites, removing red maples, alders, multiflora rose, swamp rose, other invasive species, and trash.

Protect Habitat

PBT secures voluntary “conservation lease agreements” with landowners in which they agree to allow access to sites by PBT and its partners for research and management and not to do knowingly anything likely to harm turtles. Approximately 75% of all Southeastern bog turtle sites are on private lands. PBT is effective because they work well with private landowners who are often unwilling to cooperate directly with government agencies.

Before restoration

After restoration

Landowner Collaboration

The conservation lease program allows private landowners to retain ownership of their property and encourages them to protect the wetlands on which the turtles depend. The leases offset land taxes and any profit the owners could make if they converted the site to some economic use. Moderate grazing and other traditional practices actually are of benefit to the turtles and are encouraged. Funds to pay for the leased land come from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and private donations. Through this program, many landowners have become interested in the long-term protection of bog turtle sites, and their neighbors are often encouraged to take part. In the process, many communities have become local watchdogs for the sites.

Agency Collaboration

Project Bog Turtle works closely with the respective state agencies, US Fish and Wildlife Service, The Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy, The Tortoise Reserve, and local land conservancies. Their primary strength, however, is the fact that they work closely with private landowners. As an all-volunteer, private sector and non-profit organization, they provide a key role in linking family-based land management with appropriate agency-based conservation efforts.