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Minnesota DNR Natural HCIlIBge and Nongame Research Program Env;rolllnenlal Review FriCt Sheet Selies. Blanding's Tunle 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 sreater in roads should be fenced to prevent turtles from attempting diameter and flat-bottomed Of eUiptical (raised roadways to cross them (contact your DNR Nonfcame Specialist for discourage turtles from leaving the wetland to bask on details). This IS especially important or 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). Below-ground utility construction sites should be returned to original grade (trenches can trap turtles). LANDSCAPING AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT Terrain should be left with as much natural contour as As much natural landscape as l?ossible should be preserved possible. (installation of sod or wood ChiPS, ~avingJ and planting of trees within nesting habitat can ma e that habitat unusable to nesting I3landing's turtles). Graded areas should be revcgctated with native glasses Open space should include some areas at higher elevations and forbs (some non-natives [orm dense patches through for nesting. These areas should be retained 1Il native which it is difficult for turtles to travel). vegetation, and should be cotU1ected to wetlands by a wide corridor of native vegetation. Vegetation mana2:ement in infreouentlv mower! areas -' I Ditches anrlntilitv 8C(,;;~S m8ns ~h(\llln not h" t\1ow"rl rw sUCh as in ditcheS; along utility access roads, and under ~lanag~ci'th-r;~il;"' u'se 'oicl;e~c~i~~ 'If \;egctatfo~ .. -.. '" power lines -- should be done meclumically (chemicals management is required, it should be done mechanically, should not be used). V-lork SllOUld occur fall through as infrequentt as possible, and fall through spring spring (after October I <t and before June 1 'I). (mowing can 'll turtles present during mowing, and makes it easier for predators to locate turtles crossing I roads). Protecting Blanding's Turtle Nests: Most predation on turtle nests occurs within 48 hours after the eggs are laid. A fter this time, tbe 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 coveling 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 2 in. x 2 in.). It is ve1:Y important that the fencing be removed before AUlo!ust III so tbe young tutiles can escape from the nest when they hatch! REFERENCES IAssociation for Biodiversity Information. "Heritage Status: Global, National, and Subuational Conservation Status Ranks." NatureServe. Version L3 (9 April 2001). htto://www.natureserve.orglranking.htm (15 April 2001). Coffin, B., and 1. Pfamlmu]Jer. 1988. Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 473 pp.