Wood turtle

Language English

Onglets

Description

Distinguishing features

This medium-sized freshwater turtle can be recognized by its grayish-brown carapace featuring raised, pyramidal shapes.

It is the most terrestrial turtle in Canada, spending much of its time on land.

Reproduction

Wood turtles mate in shallow water in spring or fall.

In early summer, females lay 5 to 13 eggs, which they place in nests dug into loose, sandy soil along riverbanks. Hatchlings emerge 47 to 69 days later.

Diet

The wood turtle, an omnivore, feeds on plants, small fruits, and mushrooms. It obtains protein by consuming worms, insects, mollusks, and occasionally carrion. It forages both on land and in water.

Its technique for capturing earthworms is unique. The turtle strikes the ground with its legs or plastron to create vibrations that cause the worms to come to the surface.

Predators

Predation of nests by mammals such as raccoons, striped skunks, or foxes greatly limits the ability to maintain a stable population.

Habitat

Wood turtles primarily inhabit winding rivers and surrounding forests. They will also venture into agricultural areas if these are close to its habitat.

They are found in northeastern North America, notably in Canada (Ontario, Québec, and the Maritimes) and the United States (from Virginia to Minnesota).

Ecology, behaviour

The fragmentation of the wood turtle’s habitat and water pollution lead to the degradation of its natural environment. Road construction near rivers and streams also increases the risk of turtles being hit by vehicles. All these factors contribute to the decline of its populations.

Conservation measures are necessary to protect this species, including the preservation of its natural habitats and raising public awareness.

French name

Tortue des bois

Scientific name

Glyptemys insculpta

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Reptilia

Order

Testudines (Chelonia)

Family

Emydidae

Size

14 to 25 cm

Weight

1 kg

Life span

In the wild: 40 years; in captivity: 58 years

Status

Endangered (IUCN)

At the Biodôme

The Biodôme has been participating in a wood turtle conservation program in collaboration with the Québec’s Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs.

Every year, dozens of turtles are raised in captivity, then released back into their natural habitat. The goal is to limit the impact of nest predation on this species.

From May to September, painted turtles and wood turtles can be spotted in the Laurentian Maple Forest. Our turtles don’t hibernate in the muddy bottoms of ponds as they would in the wild; instead, they hibernate in a refrigerated water basin. You can find the wood turtle in the marsh area of the ecosystem.

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