*
>> I've been interested in
biology since I was in my 20's.
I really enjoy being outside
and doing hands-on work.
The DNR has really provided
a lot of opportunities for me
in that sense.
In Wisconsin we're focusing on
the wood turtle which is
a state-threatened species.
We're trying to understand
more about their ecology,
their habitat use,
nesting behavior.
Wood turtles in particular,
we don't know a whole lot
about in Wisconsin.
We'll track probably up to 30.
Right now, we have 18 turtles
out with transmitters.
This is a 02.
When we find a turtle,
regardless of size or age,
we take a bunch of
physical measurements,
including weight and size.
Arpis width 133.8.
We count the rings on
their shells
to find out how old they are.
When we examine them
we usually look for any sort of
physical characteristics that
might distinguish them
from other turtles.
Abnormalities in the shell
or injuries, old injuries.
These are pit tags.
It's like a chip you can put
in your pets so you can identify
the animal again.
[beep]
So that's the ID number then.
See, now she'd going to
flip herself over.
They're definitely cute
which is a plus for any animal
and they, for the most part,
don't bite.
They're easy to handle.
I think most biologists
would say that they're
a perfect study specimen.
You can set her down and then
just hold her still.
>> I already have the
transmitter, frequency and ID
for that one.
>> F4A.
>> 047.
And then turtles that are
large enough, meaning they
weigh enough, we'll outfit
with a radio transmitter.
And we do that by gluing a
transmitter with epoxy
onto their shell.
And with that they send out
a little radio signal.
Now we are going to check
the frequency on this one
to make sure we have the right--
[radio crackling]
We release them at the sight
where we first captured them.
We're going to look for #4,
and her frequency is 040
[beep]
Hear the beep?
We hold the antenna up in
the air and listen to the
frequency on the transmitter.
Generally you can pick them up
with an antenna from about
a mile to a mile and a half
away from the animal.
It gets louder over here.
She's generally in
that direction,
so she's on the south side
of the river.
Most turtle species take
a long time to reach
sexual maturity.
For example, a wood turtle
needs to be approximately
11 to 15 years old before
they're able to reproduce.
That's a long time for a turtle
to have to survive.
One of the major threats
is people taking them
out of the wild and
keeping them as pets.
In addition, road mortality
is a major threat,
and so is nest predation.
Wood turtles like to nest
in open sandy areas
that don't have vegetation
and have good sun exposure.
That's why road shoulders
are particularly appealing to
wood turtles and other turtles.
Turtles come up on these on
these bridges a lot
and lay eggs,
because they're close to
the water and they have
the open sandy soil
that they like to nest in.
Then it just so happens that
road corridors are also
frequently traveled
by predators like fox
and raccoons.
So that was a snapper that
laid these eggs last week.
Something dug it up
and ate the eggs.
For the public, the take away
in particular, is to slow down
at turtle crossings,
avoid hitting turtles
with your car,
and don't take turtles
out of the wild.
Wood turtles are a very
ancient species.
And as with any other species,
we're interested in conserving
them for the state,
for future generations,
for people to observe and enjoy.
That's why this project
is important.
The turtle project is
a new experience for me,
but it's been really good.
I love northern Wisconsin.
Any day that you see
a wood turtle
is a good day, I think.
*