Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 55

In Pennsylvania, the Blanding’s turtle is a candidate species. This is a status designated for species whose current distribution is under study.
photo-Tom Diez

Crawford counties. However, Blanding’s turtles have not been confirmed in Crawford County for over 100 years. This area has undergone extensive habitat manipulation since the early 1930s such as the damming of the Shenango River and flooding of Pymatuning swamp to develop Pymatuning Reservoir in 1935. It is still unknown if a population occurs in Crawford County. Recent studies have confirmed Blanding’s turtles still exist in Erie County. However, this population is known from one area with very few individuals; population viability is a serious concern. Some scientists believe that the origin of the Erie population may be related to turtles that have floated across Lake Erie from Ontario on debris rafts. Others believe that these turtles were captive animals that were released. More study is needed to answer these questions. The Pennsylvania status of the Blanding’s turtle is a candidate species. This is a status designated for species whose current distribution is under study. Given their limited numbers, they could potentially be listed as
photo-Kathy Gipe

threatened or endangered, or if the population has been introduced or is not viable, they will be considered extirpated from Pennsylvania. A recent State Wildlife Grant project confirmed Blanding’s turtles still exist in Erie County but not in Crawford County. However, given the large size and extent of the wetland complexes in Crawford County, more study is needed. As part of an upcoming amphibian and reptile atlas project, the Mid-Atlantic Center for Herpetology and Conservation (MACHAC) and the Commission will have focal teams looking closely at the Blanding’s turtle across its Pennsylvania range. The Commission is also working with several northeastern states (Massachusetts, Maine, New York and New Hampshire) on a regional conservation project that aims to study various aspects of the northeastern Blanding’s turtle populations in the United States, including population monitoring, habitat management and population genetics, with hopes of determining the status and origin of the Pennsylvania populations. The Commission also plans to conduct radio telemetry studies on the Erie population to determine habitat use, focusing on locating nesting and overwintering areas. In areas where we know it already occurs, we plan to protect, conserve and enhance the Blanding’s turtle and its habitat by working with other conservation partners to conduct more education and outreach and assist the turtles where we can through habitat enhancement including installation of habitat structures to optimize basking opportunities and creating nesting areas. If needed, we may need to augment these populations using turtles from neighboring states that have sustainable populations. This rare, shy, yellow-chinned marsh turtle has been somewhat of a mystery in Pennsylvania. In the coming years, we hope to do what we can to further understand this species’ status and protect, conserve and enhance the existing population.

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2013

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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013

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