Why Box Turtles are good for your Garden, and How you can get them to be a regular visitor:
February Preparations
Many Years ago, before the advent of common pesticides, Box Turtles were kept in gardens as a form of pest control. Our native Eastern Box Turtles are omnivorous and have evolved eating organic matter that many other animals could never eat. The Eastern Box Turtle is sometimes even considered the only poisonous turtle in the world due to its ability to eat and process toxic mushrooms that are lethal to most. So if your garden has a good supply of decomposing plants that feed bugs, insects and slugs, you have a turtle buffet!
Mother Winter often leaves our yards littered with offerings from the trees. So far this winter at the sanctuary, we have lost a few small trees and shrubs due to Ice and snow damage, and although it is messy and time consuming to clean up and replant, winter damage is a natural and beneficial process for both the plants and the critters that use them for shelter and food. Cold Weather damage to plants have two basic causes:
- native plants have gotten weak from insects, disease or to much fast growth.
- non-native plants are not prepared for our winter.
Although February weather is not conducive to replacing damaged winter plants, it is a good time to clean up the debris, and begin planning native alternatives for wildlife in your yard.
- Locate an area along the border, in the tree line, or in a corner of your yard where you can build and leave a pile of your yard debris.
- Create a pile of sticks and branches and intersperse with leaves, soil, and compost,
- DO NOT USE soil with additives like fertilizers and weed controllers, and do not place any non-native invasive plants that may root or seed into your pile.
- Moisture in the leaves will attract insects which will begin decomposition, creating warmth.
- Sticks and branches will begin to rot as they are consumed by moisture and insects, your pile will begin to shrink.
- Insect eating birds, reptiles and amphibians will begin to visit your pile, eating insects, and further encouraging decomposition..
- The shelter and protection from predators and the elements that is created by your pile of debris will keep your new wildlife visitors returning, and create a new hot-spot of wildlife diversity for you to enjoy.
Educational Opportunities for 2018
As an Advocate for Turtles, Educational programs are created around their schedule..
Programs are limited! Book Yours Today!
Turtle Parties are a
Meet Sully
Hibernation or Brumation?
What’s the Difference?
Although many people, including turtle keepers, refer to the winter dormancy period of all animals as hibernation, the truth is they are two quite different metabolic processes
Hibernation is a state of winter dormancy in which animals (usually mammals) do not eat or drink and are able to lower their metabolism to expend a minimal amount of energy.
Brumation is a term that refers to cool-blooded or ectothermic reptiles, and is physiologically different in that when the external temperatures drop, so does the turtles body temperature. This drop in body temperature limits the turtles functionality and causes him to seek shelter until warmed by the sun.
University of Richmond School of Law
Thanks to our Student Attorney from the
University of Richmond School of Law Intellectual Property & Transactional Law Clinic,
We now have official volunteer and release forms and are busy scheduling our first Volunteer day
for Saturday May 26, 2018!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! AND WATCH FOR MORE INFORMATION!
Do you have Questions, suggestions or comments? Do you know someone that loves turtles? Are you interested in learning how you can help? Please share or drop me an e-mail!
