RHODE ISLAND WOOD TURTLE POPULATION ASSESSMENT

Starting in 2016, RWPZ started working alongside RIDEM to help collect valuable data about our Rhode Island Wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) populations. This ongoing study is aimed to help better understand how Wood turtles are using landscapes.

As a native RI species, Wood turtles are well adapted to the New England climates inhabiting streams and rivers as well as nearby terrestrial habitats during the summer months. Wood turtles aid in important nutrient recycling and act as effective seed dispersers in their ecosystems. Unfortunately, Wood turtle populations have declined due to many factors including habitat loss, road mortality, and illegal turtle trafficking.

Prior to the start of this research, there was no movement or spatial data available for Wood turtles in RI. By getting a better understanding of Wood turtle movement patterns and habitat use, land management decisions can be made to better support this important turtle species. More recently, information on individual turtle movement has been collected using radiotransmitters and geolocating loggers. Data collected from these loggers are programmed to record the location of each turtle at least 4 times a day during their active season (March-November). The ongoing research of Wood turtles is essential for developing conservation measures in the future to ensure this species is protected.

Director of Conservation, Lou Perrotti, has been an important contributor in the conservation of RI turtles and currently serves as the Wood turtle studbook coordinator for AZA.

Conservation of Local Turtle Species through the SAFE North American Freshwater Turtle Program

Since 2019 the RWPZ has been an active member of the SAFE North American Freshwater Turtle program, working alongside AZA partners, state and federal agencies, the Turtle Survival Alliance, the Turtle Conservancy, and the Collaborative to Combat the illegal Trade in Turtles (CCITT) to provide housing and vet care to North American turtles being confiscated from the ever-growing illegal pet trade.

The SAFE North American Freshwater Turtle Program focuses on five species of North American freshwater turtles: Bog turtle, Spotted turtle, Wood turtle, Blanding’s turtle and Eastern box turtle. The program addresses all Terrapene species due to the high numbers of these species being found in the illegal trade. These species are all semi-aquatic, long-lived, and take many years to reach sexual maturity. Four of these are currently listed by the IUCN as endangered or critically endangered, the Eastern box turtle is listed as vulnerable and a species of conservation concern in RI. All are of significant concern to USFWS.

The RWPZ and partners are working with the SAFE Program to develop protocols applicable to the conservation of all species of turtles, this includes dealing with confiscations, increasing holding capacity for confiscated turtles, and the repatriation of confiscated individuals whenever possible, this includes monitoring the success of confiscated turtles once released back to the wild. “Confiscation to Conservation”is the SAFE goal.