Wooohoo! We made it through another week of wild animal facts. Since it has been so hot in Ottawa, I figured we could end the week by relaxing in a nice wetland in the Eastern United States. It is here that we will find the smallest turtle in North America. By now you have read the title and know I am talking about the incredibly awesome Bog Turtle. For the record, that title really takes the suspense out of these opening paragraphs. What are we waiting for? Let’s grab our chest waders and head out to our local bog so we can catch a glimpse of these little turtles.
We had better hurry up and get out to the bog if we want to witness these turtles in their natural habitat. You see the wetlands that these turtles love are being destroyed to build new residential and commercial areas for humans. As a result, the population of the Bog Turtle is rapidly declining but don’t worry, there are numerous conservation groups working around the clock to protect prime areas so these turtles don’t end up homeless. Actually, right about now, i wouldn’t be surprised to see a homeless Bog Turtle sitting on the side of the street begging for aquatic vegetation.
Okay, so I mentioned that these turtles are the smallest in North America. Of course, we all want to know just how small they really are. On average the Bog Turtle measures between 8.9 and 9.4 cm (3.5 – 3.7″) in length. Basically, this little turtle would be able to fit in the palm of your hand, which I think is incredibly impressive. How much habitat could such a small animal actually need? This question will arise again when you find out that the Bog Turtle spends the majority of their time either buried in the mud (to escape the intense afternoon heat) or hibernating for the winter. When awake, this seclusive turtle will bask in the sun to start their day before heading out to look for lunch. What is on the menu for the Bog Turtle? Well, the special of the day is usually insects mixed in with other invertebrates. It may not be the most delicious meal but I bet the invertebrate diet lets the Bog Turtle keep their small shape.
Bog Turtle Fast Fact – Besides habitat destruction the Bog Turtle also needs to be on the lookout for poachers. As you can imagine, these cute little turtles typically end up on the Black Market to be sold as pets. Their small size makes them the perfect companion but please don’t get a pet Bog Turtle. They are protected by the United States Endangered Species Act for a reason.
So it looks like we are at the end of another Wild Fact. I don’t know about you but I don’t feel any cooler after playing in that wetland for the last 2 minutes. I guess I can spend the rest of the weekend trying to stay cool. Enjoy your Friday and have a great weekend!
