Turtle homes
I really do have a soft spot in my heart for the turtles, so I decided to do a little bit of research on them. Here's a desciption of the range/habitat/home of a wood turtle:
One of the most terrestrial in its family, the wood turtle is nevertheless rarely very far (within 300m) from moving water (Litzgus & Brooks, 1996; Kaufmann 1992). Clear streams, creeks or rivers with sand or gravel bottoms are the ideal water sources for wood turtles. Wood turtles seem to prefer riparian habitat, although they do live in a wide variety of habitats including forests and agricultural areas. A number of studies have shown that wood turtles select habitats rather then use them randomly (Brewster, 1991; Kaufmann, 1992; Foscarini & Brooks, 1993; Ernst et al., 1994). The turtle's type of habitat varies geographically and seasonally. Generally, they are in aquatic habitats during post and pre-hibernation periods and in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats in the summer. Kaufmann (1992) has demonstrated that wood turtles have a persistent fidelity to their home ranges, which overlap with other individuals. (McGill University)
And here is some info on box turtle habitat:
The box turtle's habitat varies, but it favors open woodlands, meadows, and wetland areas with good cover. Most box turtles develop a permanent home range, which expands as the juveniles mature into adulthood. Ranges can vary from five to twelve acres, and will expand and contract over a period of years. Some transient males never form permanent ranges but travel among isolated populations and mate with females whose ranges are permanent. (ChesapeakeBay.net)
I'm hoping that in determining the future use of the ND land, we can find a middle ground between the property owners and the "squatters."
Tim White
8 comments:
Let's hope somebody comes and helps the box turtles. They will have no space left they way W/S is proceeding. Maybe W/S will video tape all that the turtles do now and show it to all the shoppers in "THE BOX TURTLE EXHIBIT" that they will build.
So how long do these smaller turtles live? (Assuming they're not paved over). We know tortoises can live for 150 years. Were any of our local turtles alive during the civil war?
"I'm hoping that in determining the future use of the ND land, we can find a middle ground"
Hope doesn't do it. These people do whatever they want and our representatives have done nothing to stop them, they get exactly what they want, they have written the rules.
Nothing that they are proposing is needed and it will cost the taxpayers dearly.
The days of the wood turtle are coming to a close.
If the turtles brought int ax revenue we could build a turtle visitation center, but as nobody has an interest in that we should destroy their homes.
Any politician that supports this development without having all the facts should be removed from office. With the lack of information there is no way this should be approved. get the facts, make the presentation of facts and then decide.
10pm... I'm pretty sure that none of Cheshire's turtles knew Honest Abe. But some of our wood turtles may have encountered Ike. And a few of our box turtles, if eligible, may have voted for Calvin "stay cool with" Coolidge or even William McKinley. lol...
I believe wood turtles have ages documented in excess of 50 years and box turtles have gotten into the 80-100 years range.
Neither are known to live as long as the world-reknowned Galapagos tortoises, such as Lonely George... who are believed to live up to 200yrs.
"80-100 years range."
They won't make it past the paving stage.
Maybe W/S can stuff them and put them in an exhibit of wildlife that used to live there.
Some of the box turtles maybe 100 years old, making them among Cheshire's oldest residents.
How about some homeowner relief for these senior residents of Cheshire! Shame on P&Z for not demanding an environmental set-aside on this property.
Tim,
You are the wrong side of the North end development issue. By supporting this project and by trying to hide behind the thought that maybe the turtles and development can get along will cost you the election. Your true side has come out, who are democrat in disguise.....how sad. The bottom line is the development will cost the town more in yearly costs than what the development will bring in from tax revenue. But you, like all others in this town, have not asked for that detail of fiscal management and projected costs.
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