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Road Mortality Research in East Texas
Why did the turtle cross the road?
Like the chicken of legend and lore, the answer to the question is to get to the other side. But in the process, turtles crossing one East Texas highway are finding the journey fraught with peril and one that could change the very make up of their population and irrevocably alter their future.
Each spring, prehistoric, bony plated animals begin an arduous journey in Texas. The journey, one that has occurred since the time of the dinosaurs, is undertaken by a determined and tenacious animal – the female fresh water turtle.
Since the summer of 2008, researchers from the Houston Zoo have been conducting annual road mortality surveys for wildlife on approximately 2 miles of State Highway 190 crossing Steinhagen Lake between Jasper and Tyler counties. Females nest annually between the months of May through August. So far, Zoo researchers have counted close to 1,000 dead turtles that were crossing the road to nest alongside the highway.
The rate of mortality in the first year of our research 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.
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. Just like every other animal in a functioning food web, freshwater turtles play an important role that helps maintain a healthy, recreational lake.
Each spring, prehistoric, bony plated animals begin an arduous journey in Texas. The journey, one that has occurred since the time of the dinosaurs, is undertaken by a determined and tenacious animal – the female fresh water turtle.
Since the summer of 2008, researchers from the Houston Zoo have been conducting annual road mortality surveys for wildlife on approximately 2 miles of State Highway 190 crossing Steinhagen Lake between Jasper and Tyler counties. Females nest annually between the months of May through August. So far, Zoo researchers have counted close to 1,000 dead turtles that were crossing the road to nest alongside the highway.
The rate of mortality in the first year of our research 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.
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. Just like every other animal in a functioning food web, freshwater turtles play an important role that helps maintain a healthy, recreational lake.
Most importantly, mass scale turtle migration on this stretch of highway poses a serious public safety concern. Motor vehicle accidents involving turtles and other wildlife are a serious and legitimate concern and people have been seriously injured or worse in other locations where you see turtles and other wild life crossing roads.
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The Houston Zoo is currently working with partners to identify possible solutions to reduce the number of turtle deaths and protect motorists. The most likely solution would be a 2-mile fence running along side State Highway 190 to prevent the female turtles from crossing the road. Such fences have reduced mortality up to 98% in other high mortality locations.
About Texas Fresh Water Turtles
Turtles are one of the most ancient animals on earth and have been crawling and swimming on the planet since the beginning of time. Turtles are found not only in back yard ponds and in your local fishing lake, but also in rivers, streams, oceans and even in deserts!
Commonly regarded as the fisherman’s foe, freshwater turtles such as the well known red-eared slider and the river cooter are Texas natives that are important to the health of area lakes and are actually a fisherman’s friend!
Turtles are omnivorous animals. As they grow from hatchlings, turtles primarily feed on aquatic plants (even invasive plants), freshwater mollusks, insect larvae and dead or rotting fish. Just like every other animal in a functioning food web, freshwater turtles play an important role that helps maintain a healthy, recreational lake.
Commonly regarded as the fisherman’s foe, freshwater turtles such as the well known red-eared slider and the river cooter are Texas natives that are important to the health of area lakes and are actually a fisherman’s friend!
Turtles are omnivorous animals. As they grow from hatchlings, turtles primarily feed on aquatic plants (even invasive plants), freshwater mollusks, insect larvae and dead or rotting fish. Just like every other animal in a functioning food web, freshwater turtles play an important role that helps maintain a healthy, recreational lake.
Turtle Myth vs. Fact
Myth: Lakes and ponds in Texas are overpopulated with turtles.
Fact: The populations of Texas turtles are unknown at this time. In 2007 the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners made it illegal to commercially harvest any turtle species in public waters until more data can be obtained. Because of turtles delayed female sexual maturity and lower probability of juveniles’ making it to adulthood, turtles are very prone to rapid population declines if an unsustainable number of adults are harvested or killed.
Fact: The populations of Texas turtles are unknown at this time. In 2007 the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners made it illegal to commercially harvest any turtle species in public waters until more data can be obtained. Because of turtles delayed female sexual maturity and lower probability of juveniles’ making it to adulthood, turtles are very prone to rapid population declines if an unsustainable number of adults are harvested or killed.
Myth: Aquatic turtles only eat fish and eat all of the fish in ponds and lakes.
Fact: Red-eared sliders are omnivores and eat a variety of animal and plant materials in the wild including, but not limited to crayfish, carrion, tadpoles, snails, mosquito larvae, crickets, small fish, dead and dying fish, wax worms, aquatic insects and numerous water plant species. As an aquatic turtle ages their diet consists more of plant material than meat. Many turtles are more carnivorous when they are younger. Turtles are a very important part of the food web and help keep lakes and ponds a healthy environment for fish and other animals alike.
Fact: Red-eared sliders are omnivores and eat a variety of animal and plant materials in the wild including, but not limited to crayfish, carrion, tadpoles, snails, mosquito larvae, crickets, small fish, dead and dying fish, wax worms, aquatic insects and numerous water plant species. As an aquatic turtle ages their diet consists more of plant material than meat. Many turtles are more carnivorous when they are younger. Turtles are a very important part of the food web and help keep lakes and ponds a healthy environment for fish and other animals alike.
Myth: Turtles usually live about 5 years.
Fact: Turtles can live well beyond 50 years of age. In fact, several species of turtle can live to over 100 years of age!
Fact: Turtles can live well beyond 50 years of age. In fact, several species of turtle can live to over 100 years of age!
Myth: Turtles hiss like snakes when they are mad.
Fact: While it is true that the sound a turtle makes sounds like it is hissing, it is not. When a turtle is afraid or picked up quickly, it pulls its head in quickly and this action forces the air out which causes the hissing type noise.
Fact: While it is true that the sound a turtle makes sounds like it is hissing, it is not. When a turtle is afraid or picked up quickly, it pulls its head in quickly and this action forces the air out which causes the hissing type noise.
Myth: Turtles do not have any feeling on their shell.
Fact: The inner layer of a turtle's shell is made up of about 60 bones that include portions of the backbone and the ribs, meaning the turtle cannot crawl out of its shell. This shell serves as protection for its internal organs and is made out of the same materials as our fingernails. If you hit or cut a turtles shell, it hurts!
Fact: The inner layer of a turtle's shell is made up of about 60 bones that include portions of the backbone and the ribs, meaning the turtle cannot crawl out of its shell. This shell serves as protection for its internal organs and is made out of the same materials as our fingernails. If you hit or cut a turtles shell, it hurts!
Myth: Turtles can breathe under water.
Fact: Although some freshwater and sea turtles can stay under water for a long time without surfacing, all turtles have lungs and must breath oxygen from the air just like we do! When turtles are stressed out or caught in a trap they use their oxygen reserves faster and will drown very quickly!
For more background information:
Fact: Although some freshwater and sea turtles can stay under water for a long time without surfacing, all turtles have lungs and must breath oxygen from the air just like we do! When turtles are stressed out or caught in a trap they use their oxygen reserves faster and will drown very quickly!
For more background information:
