The Turtle Journey: Life, Death, and Climate Impact
Turtle Migration
Turtle migration in New England occurs from May to October, as adults move to and from nesting sites and hatchlings make their way to nearby wetlands. These essential movements often bring turtles across roads, many of which cut through their natural habitats. This leads to frequent vehicle collisions, especially for nesting females and hatchlings. Since turtles grow slowly and reproduce at low rates, even small losses can significantly impact their populations.
What the Impact of One Dead Turtle Means to the Population
New England’s turtles all share a slow-paced life cycle. While females lay eggs each year, the vast majority of hatchlings never survive to adulthood due to predators, environmental threats, and human disturbance. It can take over a decade, and sometimes up to 20 years, for the few that do survive to reach maturity. Because so few turtles make it that far, every adult plays a crucial role in keeping the population going. When even one adult is lost, the impact can ripple across generations. Protecting adults is one of the most important ways to ensure these species continue to thrive.
Climate Change
Climate change poses a serious threat to New England’s turtle populations by disrupting temperature-dependent sex determination, leading to skewed sex ratios with too many females and too few males. Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns also impact wetland habitats, flooding nests, drying out shallow marshes, and altering migration routes. These changes can cause turtles to nest earlier or in different locations, increasing their chances of crossing roads and being hit by vehicles. Hatchlings may also emerge at the wrong time, reducing their survival. Since turtles mature slowly and reproduce at low rates, even small losses have long-term impacts. Climate change adds stress to already vulnerable species, making conservation efforts, like fencing and habitat protection, even more critical.