Save Texas Sea Turtles!: BP Oil Spill: STRP Actions to date

A Word From Carole Allen...

New Threats to Kemp's Nesting Beach

See this week's story to read about speed limits on Padre National Seashore. Battling out the issue are Sea Turtle Conservationists and Wade Fishermen.

This is an issue about an endangered species that nests on a national seashore so we should all speak up about it. Take time to send an e-mail to pais_superintendent@nps.gov asking for slower traffic during the nesting season.

Freshwater Turtles Killed on Roadways

Hundreds of freshwater turtles being killed on the road near Steinhagen Lake in East Texas. We need people to write letters and the addresses are given below. Barriers need to be built to keep the turtles off the road.

Some key points for road mortality and freshwater turtles that you could include in a letter:

Several publications have shown that turtle populations are drastically affected by road mortality and that females suffer preferential mortality, resulting in male-biased populations because of nesting migration or choosing the sides of roads as nesting sites.

Aquatic turtle populations across the United States have evidently become male-biased over the last century, coincident with the expansion of the nation’s transportation network. (Gibbs & Steen, 2005) Because of the life-history traits of turtles, specifically low recruitment and delayed sexual maturity (Congdon et al., 1993, Steen et al, 2006), populations cannot effectively compensate for the loss of sexually mature individuals (Heppel, 1998, Steen et al, 2006).

Populations of freshwater turtle species in Texas are unknown at this time. In 2007 the state of Texas was one of the first states to ban the collection of all freshwater turtle species in public waters such as Steinhagen Lake until more data could be collected as populations are believed to be imperiled.

Since the summer of 2008, researchers from the Houston Zoo have been conducting road mortality surveys for wildlife on approximately 2 miles of State Highway 190 crossing Steinhagen Lake between Jasper and Tyler counties. So far, Zoo researchers have counted 635 dead turtles. Less than 1% of these mortalities are male. The turtles are female turtles actively selecting this stretch of highway over more natural areas as a nesting site based on roadside verge conditions such as well drained soils, appropriate vegetation cover, thermal properties, proximity to the water, etc.

The rate of mortality equals to approximately 115 turtles killed per mile per year on this stretch of road, making the area near Steinhagen Lake second on the list of the top 5 highest mortality spots for turtles in North America.

Species documented are Red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), Missouri River Cooters (Pseudemys concinna metteri) and unknown.

According to published findings at other locations similar to the highway near Steinhagen Lake, research indicates this type of road mortality is not sustainable and will eventually result in a male biased population resulting in the eventual decline of the turtle population in the lake.

Areas of confluence of high freshwater turtle abundance and activity and traffic need to be managed appropriately. Aresco (2004) showed that at Lake Jackson in Florida, using fences and culverts reduced turtle mortality from 9.7/km/day to 0.08/km/day. These tactics could be implemented at this site to reduce mortality from vehicular traffic. Motorist safety would also be greatly improved.

Turtles are omnivorous animals. As they grow from hatchlings, turtles primarily feed on aquatic plants freshwater mollusks, insect larvae and dead or rotting fish. Turtle hatchlings and eggs are food for mammals, birds and other reptiles. Like every other animal in a functioning food web, freshwater turtles play an important role that helps maintain a healthy, recreational lake.

Mail any comments to:
Texas Department of Transportation
Biological Resources Management Branch
125 E. 11th St.
Austin, Texas 78701-2483

(512) 416-2511
(512) 416-2319 fax

Texas Department of Transportation
Public Relations
125 E. 11th St.
Austin, Texas 78701-2483
(512) 416-2511
(512) 416-2319 fax

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
Public Relations
4200 Smith School Road,
Austin, TX 78744

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,
Wildlife Non-game
4200 Smith School Road,
Austin, TX 78744

2010 Texas Sea Turtle Nesting Count

KEMP'S RIDLEY TURTLE
So far this year, 139 Kemp's ridley nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):

Bolivar Peninsula 3
Galveston Island 8
Brazoria County, just north of Surfside 3
Surfside Beach 1
Bryan Beach 1
Matagorda Peninsula 2
Matagorda Island 2
San Jose Island 1
Mustang Island 5
North Padre Island 82, including 74 at Padre Island National Seashore
South Padre Island 28
Boca Chica Beach 3

LOGGERHEAD TURTLE
So far this year, 4 loggerhead nests have been confirmed on the Texas coast including (north to south in state):
Bolivar Peninsula 0

Mustang Island 1
North Padre Island 3, including 3 at Padre Island National Seashore

Boca Chica Beach 1

GREEN TURTLE
So far this year, 1 green turtle nest has been confirmed on the Texas coast

Save Texas Sea Turtles!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

BP Oil Spill: STRP Actions to date

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