Explore the fascinating year-long journey of the Wood Turtle, from winter hibernation to summer foraging, and discover how their seasonal behaviors influence conservation efforts. Learn how understanding their movement patterns can guide land management practices to protect this threatened species.
Out of all the turtles native to New England, I suspect Wood Turtles are the species most directly impacted by extreme floods. As valley stream specialists, the rivers most prone to extreme floods are the same rivers where Wood Turtles thrive.
An early May Wood Turtle survey led to the rediscovery of a plant that hadn’t been documented in Vermont in over 100 years – false mermaid weed (Floerkea proserpinacoides).
It wasn’t until high school that I encountered Vermont’s largest stream salamander, the Northern Spring Salamander… I uncovered a 7-inch-long bright orange salamander that nearly knocked my socks off.