What to do with a Blanding's Turtle Nest? - Ask Extension
A few days ago a Blanding's turtle found it's way into our garden and spent a few hours presumably laying eggs. We saw the empty hole and a few hours ...
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What to do with a Blanding's Turtle Nest? #870375
Asked May 28, 2024, 9:52 AM EDT
A few days ago a Blanding's turtle found it's way into our garden and spent a few hours presumably laying eggs. We saw the empty hole and a few hours later saw it covered up. Should we leave it alone? Are their conservationists in the area that might incubator these eggs? We have a nice, wild acreage and our garden is next to a pond.
Lapeer County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi, Meg.
That is so cool that you found a Blanding's turtle nesting in your yard! Thank you for taking the time to ask this question and for your concern for the turtle and the nest/her eggs!
If she did lay eggs, protecting the nest from predators with a wire or mesh cage would help ensure that the eggs won't get eaten by predators. I have attached several quick references that provide some guidance and examples of nest cages that can be used to help protect turtle nests from predators. The hatchlings, if they get enough sunlight and develop successfully, should hatch and emerge from the nest sometime in August or September. It would be great if you can keep an eye on the nest and see if and how many hatchlings emerge from the nest. If you do install a nest cage over the nest, please make sure the nest cage has openings large enough for hatchlings or please remove the nest cage by late July or early August so that the hatchlings can get out of the nest cage on their own.
Also, the Blanding's turtle is a state special concern species. It has declined in Michigan and across the species' range in the U.S. and Canada. MNFI, the program I work for which is part of MSU Extension, tracks occurrences/populations of rare and declining species in Michigan including the Blanding's turtle. Would you be willing to report your sighting to MNFI through the following link: https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/report? Or you can just send me your location (lat-long coordinates, or street address would work) and the date you saw the turtle nesting, and I can enter the observation into our database based on that info as well as the photos you sent with this email/question.
If she didn't lay eggs when you saw her, she may be back to nest sometime soon! So please keep an eye out for her. If she does try to nest, please leave her alone until she is finished nesting/covering up the nest. They can leave the area if disturbed at the beginning of nesting but they are pretty committed once they start laying eggs.
Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like any additional information. Thanks again for taking the time to share your sighting - very cool!
Best,
Yu Man
That is so cool that you found a Blanding's turtle nesting in your yard! Thank you for taking the time to ask this question and for your concern for the turtle and the nest/her eggs!
If she did lay eggs, protecting the nest from predators with a wire or mesh cage would help ensure that the eggs won't get eaten by predators. I have attached several quick references that provide some guidance and examples of nest cages that can be used to help protect turtle nests from predators. The hatchlings, if they get enough sunlight and develop successfully, should hatch and emerge from the nest sometime in August or September. It would be great if you can keep an eye on the nest and see if and how many hatchlings emerge from the nest. If you do install a nest cage over the nest, please make sure the nest cage has openings large enough for hatchlings or please remove the nest cage by late July or early August so that the hatchlings can get out of the nest cage on their own.
Also, the Blanding's turtle is a state special concern species. It has declined in Michigan and across the species' range in the U.S. and Canada. MNFI, the program I work for which is part of MSU Extension, tracks occurrences/populations of rare and declining species in Michigan including the Blanding's turtle. Would you be willing to report your sighting to MNFI through the following link: https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/species/report? Or you can just send me your location (lat-long coordinates, or street address would work) and the date you saw the turtle nesting, and I can enter the observation into our database based on that info as well as the photos you sent with this email/question.
If she didn't lay eggs when you saw her, she may be back to nest sometime soon! So please keep an eye out for her. If she does try to nest, please leave her alone until she is finished nesting/covering up the nest. They can leave the area if disturbed at the beginning of nesting but they are pretty committed once they start laying eggs.
Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like any additional information. Thanks again for taking the time to share your sighting - very cool!
Best,
Yu Man
