• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • DONATE
  • SHOP
The Land Between

The Land Between

Explore - Learn - Inspire

  • About
        • Our Story
          • Our Goals
          • How We Operate
          • Staff and Council
          • Our Impact
          • Join Our Team
          • Partners and Supporters
        • About The Land Between Bioregion
          • Sacred Ecology
          • Natural Habitats
          • Wildlife & Species At Risk
          • People and Place
  • Projects
    • Blue Lakes
    • Working Watersheds
    • Turtle Guardians
    • Bird Buddies
    • Agwaamtoon Mshkiikii – Protecting Medicines
    • Native Gardens
    • Special Projects
  • Learning Centre
    • Consultation, Engagement, and Honouring Our Shared History
    • Living in the The Land Between
    • Invasive Species: Phragmites
    • Knowledge Circles
    • Community “Talks”
    • Regional Research
  • Get Involved
    • Wildlife Diary- Report a Species
    • Volunteer Nature Monitoring
    • Shop The Store
    • Donate
    • Work With Us
  • News & Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Camps
    • TLB Blogs
    • The Skink Newsletter

Blanding's Turtle

(Emydoidea blandingii)

Status: Endangered (COSEWIC 2016), Threatened (ESA 2008)

Table of Contents:

  • Species Identification
  • Diet
  • Habitat and Range
  • Biology and Behaviour
  • Similar Species
  • Threats/Reasons for Being Endangered
  • Conservation and Recovery Strategies
  • How You Can Help
Mottled Duskywing Copyright Mary Kreiger (1)

Species Identification:

Blanding’s Turtles are a medium sized turtle- the adult carapace (top shell) length is generally between 20 to 23 cm. Their key identifying feature is the domed “army helmet” carapace and bright yellow chin and throat. The carapace colour ranges from black to dark brown, and has yellow-brown flecks on it. Their plastron (bottom shell) is also very distinctive and is yellow in colour with black blotches along the outer edges. Each Blanding’s Turtle has distinctive black blotches that can be used to identify each individual turtle!

Diet:

Blanding’s Turtles are omnivores and commonly eat crayfish, worms, leeches, snails, slugs, fish, insects, tadpoles, frogs, aquatic vegetation (submergent vegetation and algae), and terrestrial plants. They can forage both on land and in the water, and generally prefer small vernal pool habitats since they have a wide variety of food sources in a concentrated area. Juveniles prefer to forage in wetlands with thick vegetation in order to hide and protect themselves from predators.

Back to top of page

Blandings diet
Map taken from Government of Canada: https://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/plans/rs_blandings_turtle_e_proposed.pdf
Map taken from Government of Canada: https://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/plans/rs_blandings_turtle_e_proposed.pdf

Habitat and Range:

Approximately 20% of the global range of this species is found in Ontario and Quebec. Their global range extends from central Ontario and southwestern Quebec in the north, to Minnesota and Nebraska in the west, central Illinois in the south and New York state in the east. There are discrete and scattered populations in southeastern New York , eastern New England and Nova Scotia. Blanding’s Turtle populations are found throughout The Land Between. It is important to keep the locations of these turtles safe since they are often subject to poaching or persecution.

Blanding’s Turtles typically nest in open areas close to wetlands, such as beaches, shorelines, meadows, forest clearings, or rocky outcrops. They will also nest in human influenced sites, such as gardens, fields, gravel roads, and road shoulders. During the active season, Blanding’s Turtles spend time foraging, basking, and travelling between habitats, both on land and in water. They have a preference for nutrient-rich, slow-moving, shallow ponds and marshes with abundant aquatic vegetation. Blanding’s Turtles bask often at the water’s surface to keep themselves in their optimal temperature range.

Back to top of page

Biology and Behaviour:

Blanding’s Turtles require habitats that provide a number of basking sites and food sources. Their preferred temperature is 22.5°C for males and 24.8°C for females, and they will often be seen basking on warm sunny days to maintain their preferred temperatures. The end of April and May are the highest basking activity months, which is when they come out of overwintering sites and water temperature is still low. During this time they will often bask at the water's surface which also gives them a chance to forage  In addition to aquatic basking (on submerged logs/rocks, in muskrat and beaver lodges, in bog mats or shallow water) they will also sometimes bask on open shoreline areas with full or partial sunlight. Blanding's regularly move between different aquatic and terrestrial habitat types to access recurrently or seasonally required resources (i.e. nesting and overwintering sites, food sources). Home ranges in Ontario and Quebec tend to be between 12 and 60 hectares.

BLTUHC12022GPO
blandings laying eggs 3

After emerging from hibernation under the water of wetlands, ponds, and rivers, Blanding’s Turtles will spend some time warming up and eating before mating season, which is generally late spring depending on the weather. Female turtles will begin searching for places to nest in mid-May to the beginning of June in Ontario. This is the time of the year when all turtles are most active on and around roads, since they often use gravel and sand road shoulders to nest. Blanding’s Turtles will dig a small hole and create a cavern for her eggs to be stored in until they hatch in late August or September. They will spend hours making the perfect nest, and cover it back up until it is almost invisible. Blanding’s Turtles will lay between 10-26 oval-shaped eggs in one nest. Turtles will prepare for hibernation by heading to their overwintering sites and settling down once the weather turns cool. 

Known mammalian predators of nests and the turtles in Canada are the American mink, black bear, coyote, raccoon, red fox, river otter, striped skunk, opossum, and short tailed shrew. However, raccoons and foxes are the biggest threats for nest predation. Hatchlings and small juveniles are susceptible to predation by American Kestrel, crows, eastern chipmunk, northern short tailed shrew, red squirrel, fish, frogs, snakes and wading birds.  

Similar Species:

  • Blanding’s Turtles are most often confused with Painted Turtles, since they both have a dark shell. However, Painted Turtles have a flat top shell and their chin and neck have yellow and red lines, not solid yellow. 
  • Spotted Turtles are rare, but they also have yellow spots on their carapace (top shell). However, Spotted Turtles have distinct bright yellow polka dots and yellow spots on their head and chin, instead of a solid yellow chin and faint yellow flecks on the carapace
  • Wood Turtles may be confused since they have orange on chin and throat, while Blanding’s Turtles have yellow. However, Wood Turtles are extremely uncommon and sightings are rare

Back to top of page

Threats/ Reasons for being at Risk:

Researchers estimate that more than 60% of the Ontario population has been lost over the last three generations. A further decline of over 50% is projected over the next three generations if the following threats remain unchecked:

1. Roads and development: Blanding’s Turtles travel large distances on land- especially females during nesting season. This puts them at risk for road mortality, which is the number one threat to all turtle species. Roads are expanding northward as people escape the city, which is fragmenting their habitats and causing them to cross more and more roads to get from one site to another. Turtles are often hit on roads intentionally, or if drivers are distracted or driving too fast. Nests can also be destroyed during road maintenance, or by vehicles pulling off on the road shoulder.

2. Illegal collection: Blanding’s Turtles are a rare species which makes them very valuable on the black market. Blanding’s are also collected as pets either in the illegal pet trade, or by people that live nearby. All turtles are also persecuted and intentionally killed since they are seen as either a pest or a threat, despite the fact that they do not harm people, pets, or property.

3. Subsidized mammalian predators: Greater predator abundance (ex: raccoons, foxes, coyotes, skunks, opossums) due to increased food supply from human activity (mainly human food waste) causes higher rates of turtle injury, mortality, and nest predation than the Blanding’s population can sustain.

4. Invasive species: The European Common Reed (also known as Phragmites) is an invasive and highly successful plant that infiltrates wetlands or any wet areas. It can create dense stands that exclude other vegetation species, thereby altering environmental conditions and reducing usable habitat for Blanding’s Turtles. Phragmites make it difficult for turtles and other species to access important habitat and food sources. 

Blandings conservation

Conservation and recovery strategies:

Blanding’s Turtles have been identified as an important indicator species – if they are doing well, their habitat is also likely doing well. As a species that makes use of many different types of wetlands, as well as terrestrial habitat and corridors, they are a valuable indicator of the health of aquatic habitats and surrounding terrestrial areas. They also eat dead and decaying animals on the water bottom and help keep aquatic habitats clean.

As a threatened species, the Government of Ontario has taken steps to protect these turtles and their habitats where there have been confirmed sightings. However, this alone will not be enough to save the species, which is why organizations such as The Land Between have taken steps further to save the population. Local organizations that are dedicated to protecting turtles are taking measures to protect them like being present on busy roads during nesting season to help turtles cross safely, and some organizations like The Land Between also have the ability to excavate nests and incubate eggs until they hatch and are ready to be released back where they were found. Peterborough also has Ontario’s only turtle hospital- The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, where injured turtles can be taken to be rehabilitated and released.

Back to top of page

How can you help?

  1. Report any sightings to The Land Between’s report a species page or iNaturalist.
  2. If you see a turtle trying to cross the road, help them across in the direction they are travelling. 
  3. Please drive carefully and keep an eye out for turtles on the road, especially in the spring and summer months. Take any injured turtles to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre.
  4. Advocate to your local government about saving wetland habitats and halting development in wetland and natural areas. Keep any wetlands on your property natural and undisturbed. 
  5. Do not interfere with muskrats or beavers and their lodges since they provide great habitat for Blanding’s Turtles 
  6. Do not feed predators like raccoons, foxes, or skunks and dispose of your waste properly to discourage their population growth. 
  7. Do not share on social media where you found a Blanding’s Turtle - even pictures without locations can be used to determine the turtle’s location if there are familiar landmarks in the photo. 
  8. Support organizations dedicated to helping turtles.
  9. Call us at 705-457-1222 if you see a turtle nesting or in need of help!

Additional Resources:

  • Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
  • Ontario Nature Blanding’s Turtle page
  • Muskoka Watershed Council pamphlet 
  • Carolinian Canada Coallition - saving the Blanding’s Turtle 
  • Blanding’s Turtle fact sheet by Wildlife Indiana
Blandings facts

Sources:

COSEWIC. 2016. COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Blanding’s Turtle Emydoidea blandingii Nova Scotia population Great Lakes/St. Lawrence population in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. 110 pp.https://wildlife-species.canada.ca/species-risk-registry/virtual_sara/files/cosewic/sr_Blanding%E2%80%99s%20Turtle_2016_e.pdf

COSSARO. 2017. Ontario Species at Risk Evaluation Report for Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). Ottawa. 16pp. http://cossaroagency.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Accessible_COSSAROEvaluation_BlandingsTurtle_FINAL_13MAR2018.pdf

Environment Canada. 2016. Recovery Strategy for the Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), Great Lakes / St. Lawrence population, in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment Canada, Ottawa. vii+ 49 pp. https://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/virtual_sara/files/plans/rs_blandings_turtle_e_proposed.pdf

Back to top of page

Interested in learning more about Reptiles? Check out our blogs!

Ribbon snake

The Ssseriously Strange Anatomy of Snakes

September 29, 2024

The ‘Ssseriously’ Strange Anatomy of Snakes By: Michaela S. Bouffard Let’s imagine you are a snake. What are you feeling as you slither through the long grass that surrounds you? …

Read More
Painted turtles

Do freshwater turtles gather together for the winter in Ontario? And the role of wetlands in stabilizing populations.

December 20, 2021

Hibernation is commonly observed in many species of animals, especially those inhabiting Northern regions where there are significant drops in temperature during the winter months. In Ontario, freshwater turtles are …

Read More
Snapper on road

Ecopassages – the reason why the turtle didn’t cross the road!

December 14, 2021

As humans continue to build infrastructure through natural landscapes and wetlands, negative impacts on biodiversity increase. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth seen in the many different …

Read More
DramaQueen crop (2)

Have You Seen the Drama Queen of The Land Between?

May 31, 2021

Did you know that snakes play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem? They help control rodent populations and also provide food for other predators. The snake gets a …

Read More

 

  • Home
  • The Region
  • The Charity
  • Shop
  • Donate

 

 

The Land Between is a National Charity #805849916RR0001.

Your support helps us celebrate, conserve, and enhance this important region. You can reach us at:

P.O. Box 1368, Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0
705-457-1222 | info@thelandbetween.ca

We respectfully acknowledge that The Land Between is located within Williams Treaty 20 Mississauga Anishinaabeg territory and Treaty 61 Robinson-Huron treaty territory, in the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We respectfully acknowledge that these First Nations are the stewards and caretakers of these lands and waters in perpetuity and that they continue to maintain this responsibility to ensure their health and integrity for generations to come.

Copyright © 2022 The Land Between