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Minnesota DNR Division of Ecological Resources Environmental Review Fact Sheet Series. Blandings Turtle.3 ’ ROADS cont. Culverts between wetland areas, or between wetland areas Road placement should avoid separating wetlands from and nesting areas, should be 36 inches or greater in adjacent upland nesting sites, or these roads should be diameter, and elliptical or flat-bottomed. fenced to prevent turtles from attempting to cross them (contact your DNR Nongame Specialist for details). Wetland crossings should be bridged, or include raised Road placement should avoid bisecting wetlands, or these roadways with culverts which are 36 in or greater in roads should be fenced to prevent turtles from attempting diameter and flat-bottomed or elliptical (raised roadways to cross them (contact your DNR Nongame Specialist for discourage turtles from leaving the wetland to bask on details). This is especially important for roads with more roads).than 2 lanes. Culverts under roads crossing streams should be oversized Roads crossing streams should be bridged. (at least twice as wide as the normal width of open water) and flat-bottomed or elliptical. UTILITIES Utility access and maintenance roads should be kept to a minimum (this reduces road-kill potential). Because trenches can trap turtles, trenches should be checked for turtles prior to being backfilled and the sites should be returned to original grade. LANDSCAPING AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT Terrain should be left with as much natural contour as As much natural landscape as possible should be preserved possible.(installation of sod or wood chips, paving, and planting of trees within nesting habitat can make that habitat unusable to nesting Blanding’s turtles). Graded areas should be revegetated with native grasses Open space should include some areas at higher elevations and forbs (some non-natives form dense patches through for nesting. These areas should be retained in native which it is difficult for turtles to travel).vegetation, and should be connected to wetlands by a wide corridor of native vegetation. Vegetation management in infrequently mowed areas -- Ditches and utility access roads should not be mowed or such as in ditches, along utility access roads, and under managed through use of chemicals. If vegetation power lines -- should be done mechanically (chemicals management is required, it should be done mechanically, should not be used). Work should occur fall through as infrequently as possible, and fall through spring stst spring (after October 1 and before June 1 ). (mowing can kill turtles present during mowing, and makes it easier for predators to locate turtles crossing roads). Protecting Blanding’s Turtle Nests: Most predation on turtle nests occurs within 48 hours after the eggs are laid. After this time, the scent is gone from the nest and it is more difficult for predators to locate the nest. Nests more than a week old probably do not need additional protection, unless they are in a particularly vulnerable spot, such as a yard where pets may disturb the nest. Turtle nests can be protected from predators and other disturbance by covering them with a piece of wire fencing (such as chicken wire), secured to the ground with stakes or rocks. The piece of fencing should measure at least 2 ft. x 2 ft., and should be of medium sized mesh (openings should be about st removed before August 1 2 in. x 2 in.). It is very important that the fencing be so the young turtles can escape from the nest when they hatch! REFERENCES 1 Association for Biodiversity Information. “Heritage Status: Global, National, and Subnational Conservation Status Ranks.” NatureServe. Version 1.3 (9 April 2001).http://www.natureserve.org/ranking.htm (15 April 2001). Coffin, B., and L. Pfannmuller. 1988. Minnesota’s Endangered Flora and Fauna. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 473 pp.