WHICH PLACES DO TURTLES GO?

The return of cold weather and the formation of ice on the surface of the water prompts the question: where do turtles go? Can you tell me? The majority of us just appreciate turtles for a variety of reasons. Children adore them, and many of them even keep them as pets. A minimum of 263 different species of freshwater and terrestrial turtles have been identified. The majority of these turtles are found in water for a significant portion of their lives. We are able to see them coming to the surface at regular intervals in order to replenish their lungs. Every single turtle and tortoise breathes oxygen in order to maintain their ability to remain submerged, but this ability is only temporary. There has been a very lengthy history of turtles. A number of fossil discoveries made over the course of the last ten years suggest that turtles lived more than 220 million years ago. Through the course of many decades, turtles have successfully adapted to their natural surroundings. With that being stated, the turtle population is seeing a precipitous decline at an alarming pace. One hundred and seventy-three of the 263 species are categorized as threatened, with seventy-three classified as endangered or severely endangered. Turtles, like a significant portion of our animal population, are subject to a variety of dangers, such as the loss of their natural habitat, the harvesting of turtles for culinary purposes, and the capturing of turtles for the pet trade. Even they need our assistance. As the spring season was winding down, I found myself at our lake, where I was removing some early weed growth. A few egg shells were discovered by me. After that, I saw a hole in the sand that had been scooped out and had a great deal of egg shells. There was no one present, but it was clear that the turtle nest had been abandoned not long before. It took me by surprise to see how many shells were strewn around the pit and in the surrounding area. There are no species of turtles that do not deposit eggs. Sand and mud holes are the locations where a significant number of eggs are laid. Following the covering of the eggs, they are abandoned, and they are allowed to incubate and hatch on their own initiative. In many instances, the temperature of the environment during the incubation period is the determining factor in determining the gender of the newly hatched egg. It is typical for the incubation period to extend between 70 and 120 days. It is not possible for the mother to return to the nest at any point in time, either before or after the young have been born. In the turtle species, there is no such thing as parental behavior. The little hatchlings are allowed to find their own way to water and from there they are left to fend for themselves. Later on the same spring day, when I was cleaning our vehicle, I suddenly became aware of a little hatchling that was in the center of the driveway. It was clear that he had made a mistake since he was now more than 500 yards away from the lake and in the process of roasting on the scorching concrete. The situation required a speedy rescue. He walked back to the lake, and as soon as he was thrown in the refreshing water, he swam away from the lake. joyful conclusion! Thus, we return to the ice. Okay, so what happens when the temperature drops? Are you familiar with the sight of a turtle moving around on the ice of a pond or on land during the severe winter months? When they are hibernating, turtles often burrow into the muck that is located at the bottom of a body of water. Turtles are known to seek for the muddy bottom of the ocean when the temperature dips below 50 degrees and may even drop as low as 39 degrees. They either bury themselves or, in some instances, just sit on the muck there. Turtles that are hibernating take advantage of the fact that the temperature at which water achieves its highest density is set at 39 degrees. Due to the fact that the water with the highest density sinks to the bottom of the pond or lake, the temperature of the water at the very bottom of the body of water stays relatively constant at around 39 degrees. The consistent temperature prevents the turtle from freezing and prevents the water temperature from rising to the point where the turtle need more oxygen. This guarantees that the turtle does not require additional oxygen. The heart of the turtle beats just a few of times per hour while it is at this temperature. The cloaca, which also serves as the back-end plumbing of the turtle, is characterized by finger-like extensions that are densely packed with blood veins. As a surrogate for the lungs, the cloaca is responsible for the transmission of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the turtle and the water that surrounds it. It is not out of the question for our little buddy with the shell to remain in this state for a period of four or five months. Turtles resume their active lives on land and in the water as soon as the water begins to warm up in the spring. Turtles come back to their active lives. I am looking forward to the next several weeks when I will be able to see their small heads beginning to emerge from the water’s surface once again. Gregory James is a veteran of the United States Army, a father of six children, and a nature enthusiast who has been a longtime fan of the outdoors. Because of his affinity for the natural world, he has launched a website that sells supplies for camping cookery. The address of his website is http://www.campingcookwarepro.com where you may find it.