Wood Turtle

Clemmys insculpta (LeConte)

Turtle lovers will tell you that this is the smartest, most alert turtle species in the province. Its carapace has a sculptured, woody look and its neck and legs are orange underneath. Wood turtles may be seen in slow-moving streams, woodlands, fields or along roadsides near streams. Some people call them mud turtles, because they bask in the sun on muddy river banks. They are omnivorous, eating plants, berries, worms and insects. In summer Wood Turtles will travel upstream in the tributaries. Females lay 8 to 10 eggs in nests dug in gravel banks in early summer. By October they return to the main stream to hibernate, at the side of the stream away from the main current.

Up and over

Pastron detail (turtle completely withdrawn)

Wood Turtles are in trouble in Nova Scotia. They are often removed from their habitat by people wanting pets, then released in unsuitable habitats. This is a bad idea and there is concern about the Wood Turtle population of the province. They are most common in northeastern mainland Nova Scotia and southwestern Cape Breton Island, but turn up in particular river systems in other parts of the province also.

Woodlike shell detail

Head and shoulders

In 1996 the Wood Turtle was added to the "Vulnerable" section of the official list of species at risk of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. "Vulnerable" means the species is of special concern because of its sensitivity to human activities or natural events - in this case, habitat disturbance by people and livestock along riverbanks, and removal from the natural habitat by people seeking pet turtles.

Wood Turtles in Nova Scotia are being monitored by "Turtle Watch", an informal network of concerned scientists and citizens.