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HOW TO PREVENT NEST PREDATION cont. <br /> <br />~Nests can also be covered temporarily with plywood to provide short-term protection. The plywood must be <br />removed within five da'~s or the shading of the nest will cool the soil and prevent proper development of the <br />eggs. <br /> <br />OMasking tke odor of the nest may prevent predators from finding it. You can try sprinkling the area witk <br />water, or putting a 1 in. layer of fresh sand over the nest location in an attempt to disguise the turtle smell. <br /> <br /> HOW TO TELL IF TURTLES HAVE HATCHED <br /> Egg shell fragments scattered near an unearthed nest indicate that the nest has been destroyed by predators: <br /> When eggs hatch successfully, the eggshells are left underground in the nest cavity. Successful eggs typically <br /> hatch between mid-August and early October, depending on when the eggs were laid and how warm the summer <br />· has been. (turtle eggs are incubated by the heat of.the sun). The hatchlings emerge through a small burrow they <br /> dig from the nest to the surface. If you cannot find' the hole or burrow the hatch/ings used to exit the nest, it <br /> could mean that the eggs failed to hatch. However, some turtles .may hatch from the egg and then spend the <br /> winter in the nest, and not emerge antil the following spring. This means that even if you do.not see young <br /> turtles emerge from the nest in the fall, the nest still may have been successful. <br /> <br />Turtle nest destroyed bya predator. Photo by Carol Hall <br /> <br />If you would like to share the story of your nest protection efforts with us, please send details, (and photos, if <br />possible) to "Attn: MCBS Herpetologist" at ecoservices@dnr.state.mn.us or Minnesota County Biological <br />Survey, 500 Lafayette Rd., Box 25, St. Paul, MN 55155; or contact the DNR Nongame Specialist nearest you: <br />Bemidji (218-755-2976); Brainerd (218-828-2228); New Ulm (507-359-6033); Rochester (507-280-5070); or St. <br />Paul (651-297-2277). <br /> <br />Ctmtpiled by the Mimtesota Department of Natural Resottrces Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Progra.[ December; 2001 <br />E~tdangered Species Em,iromnenud Review Coordinator, 500 Lqt?tyette Rd., Box 25, St. Paul, MN 55155/652-296-7863 <br /> <br />-363- <br /> <br /> <br />