Virginia: Endangered Wood Turtle need clear stream and intact forest

In the Southeast, the wood turtle is found only in Virginia, usually
in or near flowing, clear streams, in adjacent hardwood forests and
old fields with favorite summer foods such as strawberries and
raspberries. They eat mushrooms, leaves and many kinds of animals,
including earthworms, grubs, snails, tadpoles and dead fish. They
rarely venture far from flowing water but have strong homing instincts
and will always try to return to their original location if they are
displaced. Wood Turtles will climb into bushes to eat berries or stomp
on the ground to draw earthworms to the surface to eat. The Wood
Turtle’s range is Northern Virginia and West Virginia up through the
Northeast and upper Midwest. However, the intense development of its
native range has fragmented populations and shrunken available habitat
which affects both the current population and limits their ability to
repopulate areas. In addition, global warming threatens to alter their
aquatic and terrestrial habitats. “Wood Turtles face accumulating
assault that can prevent many populations from persisting. The Turtles
may not reproduce enough or survive long enough to make up for
collection, predation, or road kill as well as losses from habitat
alteration or development. Without strong decisive action, America
will continue to lose its Wood Turtle” said Steve Krichbaum,
Conservationist and Naturalist living in Virginia.”

It is critical that
we move quickly to protect the endangered population of wood turtles
here in Virginia,” said David Hannah, Conservation Director of Wild
Virginia. “We continue to urge the U.S. Forest Service to establish a
Special Biological Area in the George Washington National Forest
specifically to protect our little friends.” “The Endangered Species
Act is our nation’s safety net for the wildlife, fish and plants at
risk of disappearing forever,” said Tara Thornton, Northeast
Representative of the Endangered Species Coalition. “Sadly, too many
species are being left without the Act’s protections. Some of these
species are jeopardized by the bad behavior of political appointees,
while some face the impacts of global warming and other threats. All
share in the common need for the nation to renew our commitment to
protecting imperiled species.” The wildlife, fish and plants
considered for the report were nominated by conservation and
environmental organizations from around the country. A panel of
scientists and advocates selected the final ten featured, as well as
three honorable mentions. In addition to the Wood Turtle, the
highlighted species include the Pacific Walrus, Wolverine, Gunnison
Sage-grouse, Fluvial Arctic Grayling, Island Marble Butterfly,
Southern Rockies Boreal Toad, Mason’s Skypilot, the Great White Shark,
the Red Knot, the Sand Dune Lizard, Grahams Penstemon, and the western
population of the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy Owl.

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