Glyptemys insculpta
Wood turtle
Photo by Jim H. Harding
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Key Characteristics

The Wood Turtle is a medium-sized turtle, with adult carapace (top part of shell) ranging in length from 6 to 10 inches (15-25 cm). The broad, low carapace usually has a central keel (i.e., a raised ridge running down the center of the shell), and raised, often pyramidal ridges of well-defined concentric growth rings on each scute or scale. The carapace is brown or grayish brown, often with radiating yellow and black lines on the ridges. The plastron (underside of shell) lacks a hinge, and is yellow with dark, oblong blotches along the outer edge. The highly “sculptured” carapace and unhinged, patterned plastron distinguish this species from other turtles in the state.

Status and Rank

  • State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
  • State Rank: S2S3 - Rank is uncertain, ranging from imperiled to vulnerable
  • Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure

Occurrences

County NameNumber of OccurrencesYear Last Observed
Alcona52003
Allegan11975
Alpena11991
Arenac21998
Baraga72001
Benzie51997
Cheboygan82008
Chippewa11997
Clare52002
Crawford31994
Delta32006
Dickinson41998
Gladwin32005
Gogebic101998
Grand Traverse52005
Houghton92000
Ingham11983
Iosco132006
Iron32008
Isabella91997
Kalkaska62006
Kent11996
Lake112002
Manistee162007
Marquette32005
Mason122006
Mecosta12002
Menominee52000
Midland92002
Missaukee42006
Montcalm11986
Montmorency31998
Muskegon72008
Newaygo162005
Oceana52000
Ogemaw22000
Ontonagon182001
Osceola61995
Oscoda62002
Otsego11998
Presque Isle42002
Roscommon11998
Saginaw11978
Schoolcraft82004
Wexford92006
Occurrence Map for [Sname]

Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Habitat

Wood Turtles are found primarily in or near moving water and associated riparian habitats. They prefer clear, medium-sized (range 7-100 ft / 2.1-30.5 m), hard-bottomed streams and rivers with sand and/or gravel substrates and moderate flow. Wood Turtles also require partially shaded, wet-mesic herbaceous vegetation such as raspberries, strawberries, grasses, willows, and alders along or near the river for foraging. Forested floodplains (deciduous and coniferous) with numerous sunlit openings and a dense mixture of low herbs and shrubs seem to provide ideal habitat for this species. They also have been found in non-forested habitats such as willow and alder thickets, sphagnum bogs, swamps, wet meadows, and old fields within or near the floodplain. Wood Turtles also require sandy or sandy-gravelly areas along the river for nesting but will utilize gravel pits, railroad crossings, clearcuts, roadways, utility right-of-ways, and residential yards and gardens if natural nesting habitat is not available.

Specific Habitat Needs

Downed woody debris needed in Headwater Stream (1st-2nd order), Pool, Headwater Stream (1st-2nd order), Run, Mainstem Stream (3rd-4th order), Pool, Mainstem Stream (3rd-4th order), Run

Natural Community Types

Management

The most serious threat to this species is poaching for commercial pet trade and incidental collecting by the general public. The public should be informed and educated that this species is protected under the Director’s order and should not be collected or harmed. Maintaining good water quality, controlling sedimentation, restricting pesticide use near waterways, implementing minimum development set-back distances, and leaving buffer zones along streams during timber harvest, grazing, and agricultural operations can help preserve Wood Turtle habitat. Maintaining stream dynamics that create sandy areas along the river is crucial for providing suitable nesting habitat. Maintaining or creating small openings in floodplain forests can provide foraging, basking, and/or nesting habitat. Management practices such as sand traps, streambank stabilization, stream channelization and dams can eliminate or reduce good wood turtle habitat and should be avoided. Predator control may be necessary at nesting areas to enable successful reproduction or recruitment. Road construction near streams and rivers should be avoided or minimized.

Active Period

Nesting from first week of June to fourth week of June

Breeding from first week of June to fourth week of June

Breeding from first week of September to fourth week of September

Active from fourth week of April to second week of October

Survey Methods

Although Wood Turtles can be seen anytime during the active period, the best times to survey for this species are spring and early fall because turtles are active and concentrated near streams. Spring is generally better than fall because herbaceous ground cover is sparser, allowing for better visibility, and turtles are frequently basking in or near water. The leafing out of most deciduous trees in the spring indicates a good time to initiate Wood Turtle surveys. Visual encounter surveys also can be conducted in June in the evenings for nesting females. Visual encounter surveys consist of walking through suitable habitat (e.g., in riparian or floodplain habitat along the stream or river) and searching for turtles basking or foraging in the water or on land.

More Information

See MNFI Species Abstract

References

Survey References

Technical References

Page Citation

Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 2007. Rare Species Explorer (Web Application). Available online at http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/explorer [Accessed Nov 23, 2009]