Turtle Nesting

As summer approaches, it is common to see turtles begin their nesting.  Between late May and early July, both male and females will emerge from hibernation and begin mating.  Females will then seek a warm, sunny, moist area near the water’s edge to build their nest.  Using her hind legs, she is able to dig a shallow nest.  Here she will lay 6 to 20 eggs, cover them with surrounding soil, and then leave to never return.

A Common Map Turtle (Graphtemys geographica) spotted nesting on the shore of Lower Crooked Lake.

More often than not, within days raccoons and other predators will eat the eggs.  If they are lucky enough to avoid this fate, they will hatch within 65 to 80 days.  Most species will emerge and head straight for shallow waters, while others may remain in their nest until spring.

The remainder of a turtle nest near a lake in Michigan.  Given that most turtles don't hatch until early August, it is likely they were eaten by predators.

A very interesting fact about turtle nesting is how their gender is determined.  Studies have shown that the temperature of the egg determines gender.  Cooler eggs are often males, while warmer eggs usually become females.