The end of the summer is a great time for reflection. Many folks see New Years as the chance for a fresh start but for me the onset of autumn is the time that motivates me the most. I find myself to be quite ambitious in spring but disappointed once I realize I never quite had the time to accomplish all that I had hoped. Although at first I still have those lingering feelings, this year I have to be grateful because I did achieve a great deal in the way of species I had hoped to find and sights to have been seen.
This year was the first year I participated in the Maryland Amphibian and Reptile Atlas and the first herping season since moving to Harford County. We pretty much found all the turtles we had hoped to find, from the most common species to a few that were unexpected to be encountered in such great numbers.
Throughout the county, the several survey participants documented wood turtles along clean woodland creeks both in the north and the south. Map turtles were seen basking on the large exposed rocks in the Susquehanna and its tributaries. Several residents spoke of bog turtles they had seen crawling through the spring fed soggy meadows to the north. Spotted turtles turned up in the swamp lands bordering the Chesapeake. Huge snappers, red-bellied turtles, and unfortunately even former pet red-eared sliders were seen throughout the numerous ponds and rivers. It was difficult to walk a trail or drive down a road without having to help a painted, mud, or stinkpot turtle back to the water. The occasional diamondback terrapin or sea turtle that make their way this far up the bay really weren’t realistic goals to set, so I don’t see them as a hindrance to our progress in Harford.
Perhaps the most notable quantity of any species was the eastern box turtle. My first article that I ever wrote about turtles was driven by the lack of both box turtles and diamondback terrapins in areas I had always seen them. The numbers had undoubtedly declined during even my lifetime. I won’t say that numbers are stable or increasing, but I was excited to encounter a much greater number of box turtles this season. It was not uncommon to find anywhere from one to five specimens on a single hike, usually when not even specifically looking for them. I even nearly tripped over two pairs mating within a few yards of each other, something I had never seen before. Last year I could go a month without seeing a single box turtle. As for terrapins, I was saddened to no longer catch a glimpse of the peering little heads watching us crab on the river where we have gone since I was a little kid. This year I am happy to say I observed at least five large females during one crabbing trip this year. I can’t explain the change, I always look for turtles and sometimes they are just not there. I’m not sure if some populations have rebounded or just moved, but either way, these turtles were a sight for sore eyes.
Towards the end of August I decided to make a trek to New England to escape the skin melting power of the blazing Maryland summer. The goal was not a turtle or even exploration driven mission, but one to cleanse my soul of the sometimes overwhelming monotony routine life can chain us to. Throughout my life I have found that somehow turtles always wander their way into whatever I am doing. I did a little research and found that many of the species found in Maryland can be found as far north as Maine. Wood turtles and snapping turtles go all the way to Canada. The box turtle finds its northern most habitat in southern Maine and is considered rare. There was no use seeking out the same species from back home, it was the Blanding’s turtle that caught my eye. There aren’t many in Maine but along the drive back south from Maryland I researched a few areas where they have been known to occur. One of particular interest was a National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts where they not only have been found but a headstarting program similar to what we are seeking to do in Maryland has already been implemented and shown great initial success. I made a little detour to the area where the largest numbers have been documented to try my luck. I hiked for hours around the massive wetlands, hoping for a glimpse of one of the few east coast turtle species I have never photographed in the wild. The day was sunny, the habitat was perfect, but no dice. I just got out there too late in the day and probably too late in the season to have the best odds. Blanding’s turtles are similar to bog and spotted turtles in that they are mostly turtles of the cooler weather in late spring. The summer heat keeps them greatly hidden compared to earlier in the year. While this trip was somewhat disappointing, I did pinpoint a great place within an easy day’s driving distance where I can return next year to get my coveted Blanding’s turtle photograph. At this point in my amateur wildlife photographer career I am going to face a tough road as most of the common species and now have to endure the grueling patience required to find those truly rare specimens that sometimes are only encountered once in a lifetime. I think I’m up to the challenge.
