Watching out for wildlife - Blanding's turtles found in Sandown, Newton (Penny W

EAGLE TRIBUNE (North Andover, Massachusetts) 21 June 08 Watching out for wildlife - Blanding's turtles found in Sandown, Newton (Penny Williams)

Sandown resident Ethan Major, 18, was just trying to be a nice guy when he noticed a turtle trying to cross the road about 200 yards down from his driveway. But when he squatted down to help the reptile get to the other side, he immediately recognized the distinctive yellow chin of a Blanding's turtle.
That was one of two sightings in the Newtown-Sandown area in the past year, a thrill for the residents who saw the turtles and good news for state Fish and Game officials, who are concerned about the native species' future.
Blanding's turtles are considered the most at risk of the four turtle species identified as being in the greatest need of conservation in the Granite State.
They are found in Southeastern New Hampshire, the most urban and heavily trafficked part of the state, which doesn't bode well for the turtles,
"They use a lot of different habitats and can go as far as a half mile to a mile in search of a place to nest," said Michael Marchand of New Hampshire Fish and Game. "The female leaves the wetlands and looks for an area that is well drained, sandy and has an open canopy for lots of sunshine for her nest. In the process, these turtles cross a lot of roads, which are their greatest hazards."
And that's what Major was trying to do when he spotted the rare turtle, help it safely cross the road.
"I called my dad, who was in Boston, and he said I should bring the turtle home long enough to get it properly identified, which I did," he said.
Blanding's turtles are distinctive in their markings. They have a highly domed shell, that is dark colored and dusted with flecks of yellow. The turtle's chin is yellow and can be clearly seen when its head is extended. The lower shell of the Blanding's turtle has a large yellow design covering much of it.
Major did all the right things. He prevented the turtle from possibly being struck by a car when crossing the road and he documented his sighting for state officials.
That's important, according to Marchand, who said the annual loss of one or two adult Blanding's turtles will lead to the specie's extinction within 50 years.
"That seems a long way off, but these turtles live for 70 years or more so that's really less than a single lifetime," he said. "If people see these turtles, they should not collect them for pets. It is all right to assist them across the road, but what people seeing a Blanding's turtle should do is take a picture of it and send that along, with a Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program form, to us."
That's what the Majors did — and so did Trisha McCarthy, chairwoman of Newton's Conservation Commission.
Early last fall, Newton town employees Harry Castle and Rick Harris were clearing culverts around Country Pond. They saw a turtle and realized it was laying eggs in the sandy soil near a culvert, about a foot from Country Road.
Recognizing the turtle might be something special, the men called McCarthy.
"They backed off and went to get a camera," she said. "When they returned, they found the turtle had returned, but stopped at a slightly different spot near the culvert and was laying more eggs."
Work on that culvert was halted so the turtle could lay her eggs undisturbed.
"Unfortunately, some animal got to the eggs and destroyed them and she, of course, had moved on," McCarthy said.
After Major and his father documented the turtle, he took it back exactly where he had spotted it earlier. He stayed and made sure it crossed the road safely, then headed with remarkable speed down the grassy slope headed for a wetland area.
"I could feel her eggs, so she will be hunting for the right spot to make a nest," he said.
Fish and Game officials confirmed that both turtles were, indeed Blanding's.
The three other New Hampshire turtle species considered to be in need of conservation are spotted turtles, wood turtles and box turtles.
Spot a turtle?
New Hampshire Fish and Game officials ask people to photograph the turtle and file a Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program form, available online at .us" target="_blank">www.wildlife.state.

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Marchand said people may call him directly at 271-3016.
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