The single most important thing a mother turtle can do for her offspring is to find some out-of-the-way place to bury her clutch of eggs. Therefore, hiding the nest is essential.
Using only their hind legs and feet, female box turtles take hours digging a nest hole for their eggs.
Shortly after arriving at work, Sarah Brobst, an educator at Ijams Nature Center, discovered a soon-to-be-mother at work just outside her office window. She was hidden from the world by rocks and shrubs; little did she know there was a window behind her. Observing such natural events is rare. Kara Remington and other staff members took turns on the vigil. It was an all day affair and it was laborious!
How many eggs did she ultimately lay? For the complete story go to box turtle digs on the farragutpress web site.
2 comments:
At Radnor Lake State Park in Nashville, I was hiking and I found a female box turtle that appeared to be excavating a nest cavity in a large pile of mulch that was destined to be spread out over the park's trails. Since the pile would soon be moved and the nest likely ruined, I moved the female well away from the pile (she hadn't started laying yet). I hope I made the right decision.
Hello anonymous. Thanks for stopping by.
Yes. You did what I would have done.
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