Turtles are on the Move
It's turtle nesting season
It’s June and in Michigan it’s also turtle nesting time.
There is close to a dozen types of freshwater turtles that call Michigan their home. In my particular small inland lake in northern Michigan we have identified a couple that roam the waters and, during nesting time, our grounds. The most common, however, is the painted turtle and the snapping turtle.
The painted turtle, my favorite overall, was designated the official state reptile of Michigan in 1995. They range in length from 4 to 10 inches and they live up to their name by having bright red and yellow markings on its head, limbs, and shells.
Another turtle populating our lake is the snapping turtle. A snapping turtle’s shell can reach a length of 18” with a tail almost as long as its shell. Males can grow to a large size, with some reaching a weight of 35-45 pounds. They live up to their “snapping” name and cause quite an injury to a finger or toe once they get a hold of it.
Turtle mating season begins after hibernation, although at times mating may also occur in the fall. Breeding season lasts from late spring to early summer. The first week or two of June, I have seen up to 2 dozen turtles over the course of a few days make their way from the lake to my lawn in search of the perfect spot to nest. The females look for soft, sandy soil with good exposure to the sun, which I have. They dig a hole using their back legs to lay their eggs which could be as many as 18 eggs in one nest. I have seen them take as long as a couple of hours depositing their eggs and covering them back up. They also prefer to nest in the early morning. Once the turtles go back to their familiar surroundings in the lake, they never return to check on their nests, and have nothing further to do with the hatchlings. Around the middle of September the eggs hatch and they make their way to the lake on their own. It is quite an exciting experience to watch them climb up and out of their nest and instinctively know where to go.
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Gosh Nancy I love your close up photos here of the turtles. I have to say that this piece took me back to when I was a kid and we would look for frogs under the bridge off our bike trail. For a short time growing up, my brother and I took care of an indoor turtle, his shell was the most beautiful green with yellow etchings. Having him around growing up taught me to be gentle and respectful of these beautiful creatures. Thank you for sharing here!
Hi Nancy,
Turtles are fascinating creatures. My only turtle story is about a snapping one who got stuck in our window well. It somehow fell in there, and of course, couldn't get out. It was huge, too. My husband got out our biggest heavy-duty snow shovel and scooped it into a wheelbarrow and then wheeled it to a nearby pond. That's probably where it had come from anyway.
Interesting how turtle mommies "give birth" and then never look back. Thanks for the informative essay.