Agenda - Council - 10/22/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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LiFE HISTORY' LN'FOP,.',[.-~ TiON ~.~.dapt~ t'rom OId. DeJd and .Mori~r~ [994. &rnpMbi,a~l.q and Rcp~kles .~'ativ~ t~ \ I(nncs,~c~. ~ D ESCR. iFTIO~: . The Blanding's turtle is a medium to large turtle with a black or dark blue. dome-shaped shell ~ muted yellow spots and bars. The bottom of the shell is hinged across d~e front third, enabling the turtle to pull the front edge of the lower shell firmly against the top shell to provide additional protection when threatened. The head and appendages are dark brown or blue-gray with small dgts of light browri or yellow..& distinctive field mark is the bright yellow chin and neck. The average adult gtaoding's turtle ranges from 6 to 9 inches in a straig'ht-line upper shell length. HABITAT: Shallow, slow-moving water with mud bottoms and abundant aquatic vegetation are preferred by Blanding's turtles. Extensive marshe~ bordering rivers provide excellent habit:a~. [n Minnesota, B{anding's turtles are primarily marsh and pond inhabitants and are frequenQy found in association with snapping and painted tarries. Bla.nding's turtles protect themselves from freezing temperatures by overwintering in the muddy bottoms of marshes and ponds. LIFE HISTORY:·. Individuals·emerge from overwintering and'begin basking in early April on warm, ~unnv davs.. Nesting occurs duri.ng the first two weeks of June in Minnesota~. Females are most active in late afternoon and at dusk. After crawling up to I mite and laying eggs~ females.'.rrmy hide n~ar:a bush and return to the marsh the next day, especially in the early morning. The nest is dug by the female in an open sandy area, where 6-15 eggs are laid. After a development per/od of approximately two m°nths~ hatchlin~s lea,~e the nest between mid-August and ' early October with an average shell length of 1 1/4 inches. Often, they must rrmke a long overland trek to find water. ' - · · Blanding's turtles are mild-mannered and do not attempt to bite. If molested or threatened they simply p~ll into their shell and wait for danger to pass. Nests.and young Of'slanding's turtles fall victim to raccoons, skunks, and predatory birds, Adults are particularly vulnerable to being struck by automobiles while crossing roads. '.' -37O- RECOM~IEN-DATIONS: We offer the following guidelines concerning construction and land use to help minim/ze impacts on turtles. - Workers should be informed of the presence of Blanding's turtles in the area. Roads should be kept to minimal standards for widths and lanes. Roads should be ditched, not curbed or belOw-grade. If curbs must be used, 4"-high curbs at a 3:I slope are preferred. Blanding'.s ~rtles have great difficulty climbing traditional curbs. Curbs and grade roads trap turtles on the road, increasing roadkill~ When working near wedand& silt fencing should be set up tO keep turtles out of construction areas. critical that silt fences b~ removed after the area has be~n reveget~ted. Culverts connecting wetland are~ should be over-sized and elliptical or I>mc-sl~ap~'to £acilita'te turtle movement between w&lands. Utility acc-ms and maintenance roads should be kept to a minimum. Vegetation m,mmgement under power lines should be done mect~anicalty and between October I ' and June 1~. Chemie,~ should not be ttsed. Betow-grourld utility construction sites should be returned tx} original grade. Eroded materiat ,h,uld be prevented from reach/rig wetlands and lakes. Graded arev. s should be rev~etated, wi~ native v~etation. Use of fertiLLz, ers and pesticides ,hould be avoided. All wetlands should be protected from road, [awn, and other chemlc~ run-off by a naturalb , Duffer strip. - Shallow, vegetated wetlands (Type 2 and 3) should not be dredged or deepened. Landscaping should be Ieft ~ auroral ~s possible. Terrain should be left with as much natural contour as possibIe. Road placement should avoid separating wetlands from adjacent uplands and should avod h .... wedands I I I I I I I I