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September 22, 2005 - Helping hand for hatchlingsGA • The News- Review • September 22, 2005 Helping hand for hatchlings photo Top: This hatchling box turtle, a mere 11/4 inches long, had just dug itself out of its shallow summer home. All summer long, the warm earth incubated the eggs so that by early fall the young were fully developed and ready to explore the world. As cool weather approaches they will seek a place to hibernate and spend the winter. Bottom: Here you see the female box turtle digging her flask - shaped nest in the hard pebble driveway where she deposited her five eggs in June. With a basket over the nest to protect it, the eggs developed during the summer to hatch in September. 8 R Proclaiming Grace ea' Freedom Since 1833 join us at the Riverhead United Methodist Church 204 Fast Main St., Riverhead Rev. Christopher D. Doyle, Jr. Pastor Sunday School and Worship Service 10 am. 631/727 -2327 RUMC11901@aol.com EVERY oNcE IN A while someone calls to tell me about a particular event or happening that becomes the subject for my weekly article. Case in point: A concerned lady called me about some hatchling turtles coming out of a nest she had been monitoring since June, when they found a box turtle laying eggs in their driveway. From that day on the site was protected from car traf- fic. Our caller checked on how long it would take the young to hatch and a close FOCUS watch at the nest O N site started in September. Sure NATURE enough,weather and sun had in- by Paul cubated the eggs Stoutenburp and they slowly, over the sum- mer, developed. Then just last week the fully developed young dug their way to freedom. Barbara and I were anxious to see these newly hatched box turtles, so we immediately popped into our car and headed for the protected maternity ward in the driveway. When we arrived we found our good caller had posi- tioned herself in a chair with a book alongside where the tiny, half -dollar size turtles had started to emerge. How these tiny turtles could make their way out of their tough, flexible eggshells and then dig out of the hard - packed gravel driveway that held them captive all summer, I'll never know. When we picked one up we could see it was definitely our eastern box turtle, for the tiny shell already showed the colors of the adult. As it struggled to get out of our hand, we could see its sharp claws that enabled it to free itself from its long summer hiding place. Three had already emerged, but we were concerned that the hard - packed driveway held others unable to free themselves. The usual clutch of box turtle eggs is between three and six. It just so happened that the man of the house was a doctor and he took it upon himself to perform the delicate operation of carefully digging about to see if there were more in the nest. Carefully, ever so carefully, he picked and lifted hard bits of dirt and pebbles "Something's moving.There are more in there." Out came the old crinkly shells of the young that had already found their way to freedom, then more dehcate digging. "I see a foot now." Then ever so care- fully a baby turtle was eased out. More digging and, "There's still another one. I can see the shell." And out came another and more shells. Without the expert hand of the doctor, I doubt those two remaining young would have made it. You might say they were born by Caesarean section. We were concerned that these little turtles would never make it past the high - curbed pebble driveway that ran the length of the property.That curbing must have looked like the Great Wall of China to the now - active baby turtles One crawled along the base of the curb but found no way to climb it. Thinking of moving them up and over the curb- ing added the concern of lawnmowers making short of them Like with so many other creatures, people's homes, lawns and gardens are slowly taking over the natural habitat. After much discussion, it was decided to let them go in our four -acre pasture, with its pond that already is home to other turtles Box turtles are not great wander- ers and it is hoped they will be able to make it in our pasture. Box turtles big and small hibernate in the winter by finding some soft deep leaf mulch and digging down in that. There they remain fill spring, when they climb out and start their endless search for bugs, slugs, insects, fruit, mushrooms, etc. I know box turtles eat mushrooms, for we once watched in amusement as one chomped away on an umbrella mush- room in my dad's garden. We're told that they sometimes eat the most poi- sonous mushroom without ill effects. Thrfles are omnivores in the broadest sense of the word. Anything that will fit in their mouth is fair game. The box turtle is the most wide- spread land turtle east of the Missis- sippi, but, sorry to say, we are seeing fewer and fewer of them. When we were kids growing up turtles were a common sight. One day we decided to have a turtle race. Each of us went out into the woods and in no time came back with an unhappy turtle that was lined up with the others at the starting line.I remember they weren't the least bit interested in our idea of racing. As a matter of fact, not one headed in the right direction. So much for turtle rac- ing, but it does give you the idea that turtles were easily found in our woods years ago. The box turtle is the most common land turtle, but that does not rule out that occasionally they will visit ponds, streams and brackish water. Barbara and I remember seeing 10 or 12 box turtles in a dug -out canal on Nassau Point years ago. Why they were there I do not know but they seemed to be enjoying themselves in their private Jacuzzi. They can't be missed with their high, dome -like shape and especially tight-hinged bottom shell that closes completely when danger's around. Other turtles, such as the painted, spotted, mud, musk and others, all have a hinged bottom shell but none close as complete- ly as the box turtle's does You can usually tell the sex of the box turtle by its eyes Males have bright orange or red eyes while the females have brown to light orange eyes Another aid in determining the sex is by the tail of the male, which is longer and flatter than the female's Titt -des live to a ripe old age. Roy Latham of Orient, the noted expert on all phases of the natural world, told me he had definite proof of turtles on Ws farm and the surrounding area that lived to be 80 years old, and he believes some were even older. He reinforced the idea that turtles did not wander far from their given area, for he retrieved the same turtles year after year. So when you see a turtle crossing the road, stop and put it off to the side so it can go on living and giving us all pleasure. The curbing must have looked like the Great Wall of China to the baby turtles. t Ot . ,r Newsl'�ewew pl -.nln by F;fl K��.iling Top: This hatchling box turtle, a mere 11/4 inches long, had just dug itself out of its shallow summer home. All summer long, the warm earth incubated the eggs so that by early fall the young were fully developed and ready to explore the world. As cool weather approaches they will seek a place to hibernate and spend the winter. Bottom: Here you see the female box turtle digging her flask - shaped nest in the hard pebble driveway where she deposited her five eggs in June. With a basket over the nest to protect it, the eggs developed during the summer to hatch in September. 8 R Proclaiming Grace ea' Freedom Since 1833 join us at the Riverhead United Methodist Church 204 Fast Main St., Riverhead Rev. Christopher D. Doyle, Jr. Pastor Sunday School and Worship Service 10 am. 631/727 -2327 RUMC11901@aol.com EVERY oNcE IN A while someone calls to tell me about a particular event or happening that becomes the subject for my weekly article. Case in point: A concerned lady called me about some hatchling turtles coming out of a nest she had been monitoring since June, when they found a box turtle laying eggs in their driveway. From that day on the site was protected from car traf- fic. Our caller checked on how long it would take the young to hatch and a close FOCUS watch at the nest O N site started in September. Sure NATURE enough,weather and sun had in- by Paul cubated the eggs Stoutenburp and they slowly, over the sum- mer, developed. Then just last week the fully developed young dug their way to freedom. Barbara and I were anxious to see these newly hatched box turtles, so we immediately popped into our car and headed for the protected maternity ward in the driveway. When we arrived we found our good caller had posi- tioned herself in a chair with a book alongside where the tiny, half -dollar size turtles had started to emerge. How these tiny turtles could make their way out of their tough, flexible eggshells and then dig out of the hard - packed gravel driveway that held them captive all summer, I'll never know. When we picked one up we could see it was definitely our eastern box turtle, for the tiny shell already showed the colors of the adult. As it struggled to get out of our hand, we could see its sharp claws that enabled it to free itself from its long summer hiding place. Three had already emerged, but we were concerned that the hard - packed driveway held others unable to free themselves. The usual clutch of box turtle eggs is between three and six. It just so happened that the man of the house was a doctor and he took it upon himself to perform the delicate operation of carefully digging about to see if there were more in the nest. Carefully, ever so carefully, he picked and lifted hard bits of dirt and pebbles "Something's moving.There are more in there." Out came the old crinkly shells of the young that had already found their way to freedom, then more dehcate digging. "I see a foot now." Then ever so care- fully a baby turtle was eased out. More digging and, "There's still another one. I can see the shell." And out came another and more shells. Without the expert hand of the doctor, I doubt those two remaining young would have made it. You might say they were born by Caesarean section. We were concerned that these little turtles would never make it past the high - curbed pebble driveway that ran the length of the property.That curbing must have looked like the Great Wall of China to the now - active baby turtles One crawled along the base of the curb but found no way to climb it. Thinking of moving them up and over the curb- ing added the concern of lawnmowers making short of them Like with so many other creatures, people's homes, lawns and gardens are slowly taking over the natural habitat. After much discussion, it was decided to let them go in our four -acre pasture, with its pond that already is home to other turtles Box turtles are not great wander- ers and it is hoped they will be able to make it in our pasture. Box turtles big and small hibernate in the winter by finding some soft deep leaf mulch and digging down in that. There they remain fill spring, when they climb out and start their endless search for bugs, slugs, insects, fruit, mushrooms, etc. I know box turtles eat mushrooms, for we once watched in amusement as one chomped away on an umbrella mush- room in my dad's garden. We're told that they sometimes eat the most poi- sonous mushroom without ill effects. Thrfles are omnivores in the broadest sense of the word. Anything that will fit in their mouth is fair game. The box turtle is the most wide- spread land turtle east of the Missis- sippi, but, sorry to say, we are seeing fewer and fewer of them. When we were kids growing up turtles were a common sight. One day we decided to have a turtle race. Each of us went out into the woods and in no time came back with an unhappy turtle that was lined up with the others at the starting line.I remember they weren't the least bit interested in our idea of racing. As a matter of fact, not one headed in the right direction. So much for turtle rac- ing, but it does give you the idea that turtles were easily found in our woods years ago. The box turtle is the most common land turtle, but that does not rule out that occasionally they will visit ponds, streams and brackish water. Barbara and I remember seeing 10 or 12 box turtles in a dug -out canal on Nassau Point years ago. Why they were there I do not know but they seemed to be enjoying themselves in their private Jacuzzi. They can't be missed with their high, dome -like shape and especially tight-hinged bottom shell that closes completely when danger's around. Other turtles, such as the painted, spotted, mud, musk and others, all have a hinged bottom shell but none close as complete- ly as the box turtle's does You can usually tell the sex of the box turtle by its eyes Males have bright orange or red eyes while the females have brown to light orange eyes Another aid in determining the sex is by the tail of the male, which is longer and flatter than the female's Titt -des live to a ripe old age. Roy Latham of Orient, the noted expert on all phases of the natural world, told me he had definite proof of turtles on Ws farm and the surrounding area that lived to be 80 years old, and he believes some were even older. He reinforced the idea that turtles did not wander far from their given area, for he retrieved the same turtles year after year. So when you see a turtle crossing the road, stop and put it off to the side so it can go on living and giving us all pleasure. The curbing must have looked like the Great Wall of China to the baby turtles. The News - Review • September 22, 2005 News - Review photo by Barbara Stoutenburgh 7'hG �b w M . . I� I ,, ww I. 'i/ t lIrlll/ fi I n News- Review photo by Pat Keating Top: This hatchling box turtle, a mere 11/4 inches long, had just dug itself out of its shallow summer home. All summer long, the warm earth incubated the eggs so that by early fall the young were fully developed and ready to explore the world. As cool weather approaches they will seek a place to hibernate and spend the winter. Bottom: Here you see the female box turtle digging her flask - shaped nest in the hard pebble driveway where she deposited her five eggs in June. With a basket over the nest to protect it, the eggs developed during the summer to hatch in September. elping and for atc ings EvERY ONCE IN A while someone calls to tell me about a particular event or happening that becomes the subject for my weekly article. Case in point: A concerned lady called me about some hatchling turtles coming out of a nest she had been monitoring since June, when they found a box turtle laying eggs in their driveway. From that day on the site was protected from car traf- fic. Our caller checked on how long it would take the young to hatch and a close Focus watch at the nest ON site started in September. Sure NATURE enough, weather and sun had in- by Paul cubated the eggs Stoutenburgh and they slowly, over the sum- mer, developed. Then just last week the fully developed young dug their way tc freedom. Barbara and I were anxious to see these newly hatched box turtles, so we immediately popped into our car and headed for the protected maternity ward in the driveway. When we arrived we found our good caller had posi- tioned herself in a chair with a book alongside where the tiny, half -dollar size turtles had started to emerge. How these tiny.turtles could make their way out of their tough, flexible eggshells and then dig out of the hard - packed gravel driveway that held them captive all summer, I'll never know. When we picked one up we could see it was definitely our eastern box turtle, for the tiny shell already showed the colors of the adult. As it struggled to get out of.our hand, we could see its sharp claws that enabled it to free itself from its long summer hiding place. Three had already emerged, but we were concerned that the hard - packed driveway held others unable to free themselves. The usual clutch of box turtle eggs is between three and six. It just so happened that the man of the house was a doctor and he took it to the delicate operation of carefully digging about to see if there were more in the nest. Carefully, ever s carefully, he picked and lifted hard bits of dirt and pebbles. "Something's moving. There are more in there." Out came the old crinkly shells of the young that had already found their way to freedom, then more delicate digging. "I see a foot now." Then ever so care- fully a baby turtle was eased out. More digging and, "There's still another one. I can see the shell." And out came another and more shells. Without the expert hand of the doctor, I doubt those two remaining young would have made it. You might say they were born by Caesarean section. We were concerned that these little turtles would never make it past the high - curbed pebble driveway that ran the length of the property. That curbing must have looked like the Great Wall of China to the now - active baby turtles. One crawled along the base of the curb but found no way to climb it. Thinking of moving them up and over the curb- The curbing must have looked like the Great Wall of China to the baby turtles. ing added the concern of lawnmowers making short of them. Like with so many other creatures, people's homes, lawns and gardens are slowly taking over the natural habitat. After much discussion, -it was decided to let them go in our four -acre pasture, with its pond that already is home to other turtles. Box turtles are not great wander- ers and it is hoped they will be able I make it in our pasture. Box turtles big and small hibernate in the winter by finding some soft deep leaf mulch and digging down in that. There they to till spring, when they climb out and start their endless search for bugs, slugs, insects, fruit, mushrooms, etc. I know box turtles eat mushrooms, for we once watched in amusement as one chomped away on an umbrella mush- room in my dad's garden. We're told that they sometimes eat the most poi- sonous mushroom without ill effects. Turtles are omnivores in the broadest sense of the word. Anything that will fit in their mouth is fair eame_ the box turtle is the most wide- spread land turtle east of the Missis- sippi, but, sorry to say, we are seeing fewer and fewer of them. When we were kids growing up turtles were a common sight. One day we decided to have a turtle race. Each of us went out into the woods and in no time came back with an unhappy turtle that was lined up with the others at the starting line. I remember they weren't the least bit interested in our idea of racing. As a matter of fact, not one headed in the right direction. So much for turtle rac- ing, but it does give you the idea that turtles were easily found in our woods years ago. The box turtle is the most common land turtle, but that does not rule out that occasionally they will visit ponds, streams and brackish water. Barbara and I remember seeing 10 or 12 box turtles in a dug -out canal on Nassau Point years ago. Why they were there I do not know but they seemed to be enjoying themselves in their private acuzzi. They can't be missed with their high, dome -like shape and especially tight - hinged bottom shell that closes completely when danger's around. Other turtles, such as the painted, spotted, mud, musk and others, all have a hinged bottom shell ut none close as complete- ly as the box turtle's does. You can usually tell the sex o e ox turtle by its eyes. Males have bright orange or red eyes while the females have brown to light orange eyes. Another aid in determining the sex is by the tail of the male, which is longer and flatter than the female's. Turtles live to a ripe old age. Roy Latham of Orient, the noted expert on all phases of the natural world, told me he had definite proof of turtles on his farm and the surrounding area that lived to be 80 years old, and he believes some were even older. He reinforced the idea that turtles did not wander far from their given area, for he retrieved the same turtles year after year. So when you see a turtle crossing the road, stop and put it off to the side so it can go on living and giving us all