Leave Young Wildlife Alone; Watch for Turtles Crossing Roads to Nest

LEAVE YOUNG ANIMALS ALONE — KEEP WILDLIFE WILD

CONCORD, N.H. — If you encounter wildlife, even young animals that appear to need help, the kindest (and safest) thing to do is to leave them alone and let nature take its course, officials from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department said today.

This time of year, many people call Fish and Game reporting that they have picked up young animals, thinking they are orphans. “Picking up fawns, baby raccoons or young animals is an error in judgment,” says Fish and Game Lt. Robert Bryant. “People think they’re doing a good deed, but they are often removing the animal from the care of its parents and exposing themselves to the risk of disease. What’s more, these actions may result in the animal having to be euthanized for rabies testing.”

Young wild animals (including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians) have their best chance of surviving when they are in their own natural environment, says Fish and Game Wildlife Programs Administrator Mark Ellingwood. What should you do if you find a young animal? “Give wildlife plenty of space and leave them alone and in the wild, where they belong,” he said.

Seeing a fawn alone, for example, does NOT mean that it is orphaned or that it needs our help. Ellingwood explains that it is normal for a doe to leave her fawn alone while she goes off to feed in the early morning and evening hours. In many cases, the doe will not return until nightfall. “Fawns are not defenseless creatures. Their cryptic coloration, tendency to stay perfectly still and lack of scent, are all adaptations that help them survive,” he said. Does are easy to detect because of their size and scent, so they generally keep a distance from their fawns, except during brief nursing bouts, so that predators don’t key in on them. “This hands-off policy also applies to bear cubs and moose calves,” Ellingwood said.

“So, if you’re lucky enough to see a deer fawn, bear cub, moose calf or other wild animal, count your blessings and leave the area,” Ellingwood advises. “The majority of a doe’s time, for example, is spent away from the fawn. Persistent revisiting by sympathetic people only serves to prolong the separation and delay important feeding. If you know that the mother is dead, or if you have questions, call your local Fish and Game office.”

Only qualified people with special rehabilitator’s permits, issued through Fish and Game in Concord, may take in and care for injured or orphaned wildlife. Unless you have these credentials, it is illegal to have in your possession or take any New Hampshire wildlife from the wild and keep it in captivity. For a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators, go to http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/wildlife_rehabbers.htm.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state’s fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.wildnh.com.

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TURTLE SHELLS NO MATCH FOR TIRES — GIVE TURTLES A BRAKE

CONTACT: Mike Marchand, 603-271-3016; Jane Vachon, 603-271-3211
June 1, 2009

CONCORD, N.H. — Spring is a welcome time in New Hampshire, and one of the signs of the season is turtles migrating to nesting habitat. We can help them survive by slowing down and keeping an eye out for turtles crossing the roads in coming weeks, says New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Wildlife Biologist Mike Marchand. Turtle nesting season in New Hampshire lasts from late May into early July, reaching maximum intensity in early to mid-June.

“Turtle nesting season provides us with a unique opportunity to see turtles moving on land, but it is an extremely vulnerable time for the turtles,” says Marchand. “Today, the biggest threat to turtle populations in New Hampshire is being struck by automobiles on roadways. While male turtles may choose to travel overland to reach a different wetland habitat during spring and fall, mature female turtles MUST leave the relative safety of ponds and wetlands to contribute to the development of future generations.”

To find an appropriate nesting habitat, female turtles may easily travel several hundred yards or more, seeking a sandy or other well-drained area that is open to sunlight. Female turtles dig a nest chamber, deposit eggs, cover the eggs with soil, and depart, leaving the turtle embryos and future young turtles to fend for themselves. Young turtles must cope with predators, primarily raccoons, which may dig up and destroy a large number of eggs. When turtles are small, everything eats them –raccoons, great blue herons, even a bullfrog on occasion. As turtles approach adulthood, they are less vulnerable to predators. Predators are generally not catastrophic for local populations, says Marchand, but the impact of development and the associated increase in amount and speed of traffic on our roads is taking a toll.

Turtles have coped with various threats by being able to live a very long time, with some local species of turtles possibly exceeding 70 years! But low survival of young isn’t the only reason why turtles must live a long time — female turtles of some species may not be capable of reproducing until they are 15 years of age or older.

Here’s a few things you can do to help New Hampshire turtles survive:

1) Slow down and watch for turtles in roadways!

2) Help turtles cross roads safely. If you see a turtle crossing a road, and it is safe for you to do so, help it cross in the direction it was traveling. Never create a dangerous situation for other motorists or yourself. Snapping turtles should be handled with care or allowed to cross on their own.

3) Don’t take the turtle home or move it far from where you found it. A turtle taken to your home is a turtle lost from the local population. (Also, all New Hampshire native turtles are protected by state law during nesting season).

4) If a turtle is injured, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/wildlife_rehabbers.htm or call Fish and Game’s Wildlife Division at (603) 271-2461 for a list of wildlife rehabilitators in your area. For more on what to do if you find an injured turtle, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/injured_turtle.htm.

5) Report turtle sightings to N.H. Fish and Game’s Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program (http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/reptiles_amphibians.htm).

6) Work with land trusts and town officials to help conserve important natural areas in your community.

7) Another tip: Mulch piles can be attractive places for turtles to nest when located near wetland areas. Spreading mulch into gardens soon after delivery will reduce turtles from nesting in a mulch pile that is likely to be disturbed later in the season. If mulch will be in place for several weeks or more, covering with plastic will help reduce attractiveness for nesting turtles.

By taking these steps, we can all help to ensure that New Hampshire’s turtles stay abundant and healthy. So slow down and give turtles a brake this spring and summer!

Learn more about migrating turtles in New Hampshire and how you can help them survive by tuning in to wildlife biologist Mike Marchand’s podcast about turtles on the Fish and Game website at http://blog.wildnh.com (click on “Wild June in N.H.”).

See pictures of and learn how to identify New Hampshire’s seven native species of turtles at http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Nongame/turtles.htm.

Find out more about the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program, supported by federal and state grants and individual donations, at http://www.wildnh.com/nongame.