JCSET | Watershed Studies Institute Research Symposium
Assessing the long-term effects of turtle racing on the movement and habitat selection of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina)
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Wildlife & Conservation Biology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Andrea Darracq, PhD
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina; hereafter EBTs) have experienced population declines of over 30% in the last 50 years. The largest contributors to EBT declines are habitat destruction and direct mortality caused by vehicle strikes. However, a lesser-known factor that may negatively affect the survival of this species are turtle races. Aside from the poor conditions the turtles often experience during the race itself (e.g., hot pavement and being dropped), races are problematic for several reasons. First, the turtles are often not cared for properly prior to the race and can be held for variable lengths of time, from months to days. During this time the turtle’s health could decline substantially. Second, during the race turtles are often placed into containers together until the race begins. When placed into these containers it is likely diseases are transmitted among turtles. Finally, instead of race participants returning their collected turtles to their original home, they are generally released at the race location or dumped in areas nearby. Release of these turtles into novel areas could introduce new diseases and negatively affect native turtles. Moreover, it is likely release in novel areas would affect the health of the released turtles as they search for their home or for a suitable site, if one exists, near the release location. Despite these potential negative effects of races on EBTs, they have received little to no attention. Thus, using data that we have been collecting since 2021 and data we plan to collect in 2024 - 2025 we aim to assess the longer-term effects of turtle races on EBTs. We will present preliminary data related to our objectives to 1) monitor and assess the long-term movement patterns and survival between race and native EBTs and 2) assess differences in habitat selection between race and native EBTs.
Spring Scholars Week 2025
Watershed Studies Institute Research Symposium
Assessing the long-term effects of turtle racing on the movement and habitat selection of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina)
Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina; hereafter EBTs) have experienced population declines of over 30% in the last 50 years. The largest contributors to EBT declines are habitat destruction and direct mortality caused by vehicle strikes. However, a lesser-known factor that may negatively affect the survival of this species are turtle races. Aside from the poor conditions the turtles often experience during the race itself (e.g., hot pavement and being dropped), races are problematic for several reasons. First, the turtles are often not cared for properly prior to the race and can be held for variable lengths of time, from months to days. During this time the turtle’s health could decline substantially. Second, during the race turtles are often placed into containers together until the race begins. When placed into these containers it is likely diseases are transmitted among turtles. Finally, instead of race participants returning their collected turtles to their original home, they are generally released at the race location or dumped in areas nearby. Release of these turtles into novel areas could introduce new diseases and negatively affect native turtles. Moreover, it is likely release in novel areas would affect the health of the released turtles as they search for their home or for a suitable site, if one exists, near the release location. Despite these potential negative effects of races on EBTs, they have received little to no attention. Thus, using data that we have been collecting since 2021 and data we plan to collect in 2024 - 2025 we aim to assess the longer-term effects of turtle races on EBTs. We will present preliminary data related to our objectives to 1) monitor and assess the long-term movement patterns and survival between race and native EBTs and 2) assess differences in habitat selection between race and native EBTs.
