Tag: Turtle

IPSWICH — An endangered species of turtle was caught and released back into the Ipswich River last week after being spotted sitting on the rocks directly below the Ipswich Mills Dam.

Ipswich River Watershed Association staff and MassWildlife investigated the reported sighting to discover a male Northern red-bellied cooter. The seemingly lonesome turtle was then brought into MassWildlife for further assessment and to be microchipped with a VHF radio transmitter so its movements can be monitored over the remainder of the summer.

There was no data to suggest the turtle came from known populations in southeastern Massachusetts. So, MassWildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife decided to release him back into the Ipswich River — above the dam, as its behavior suggested it was attempting to move upstream, and it is a freshwater species that’s less suitable for tidal habitats.

“We could not conclusively determine that the male from the dam had originated in southeastern Massachusetts, so it was not clearly the best management decision to release the turtle in that area,” MassWildlife Herpetologist Mike Jones said.

“And because the animal found near Peatfield landing and reported last year was clearly different from the male found at the dam, we would like to better understand the extent and size of this occurrence.”

The cooter sighting was the second ever recorded in the Ipswich River, and the first to be microchipped.

Last year, as the Ipswich Mills Dam removal pursued permitting approval, the Ipswich River Watershed Association submitted photos for review, which happened to capture images of another red-bellied cooter. The discovery is not expected to delay the planned dam removal.

Although the nearest known population of the species is far away in Plymouth, archaeological evidence suggests they inhabited the Ipswich River 1,000 years ago, making this the first confirmed sighting in modern times.

“We’re very excited to be working with MassWildlife to learn more about the red-bellied cooter and what their place in the Ipswich River might be,” IRWA Restoration Program Director Neil Shea said.

“The opportunity to track this animal and learn more about its behavior is very unique and speaks to the incredible biodiversity that we have throughout the Ipswich River.”

Northern red-bellied cooters are listed as endangered on both the Massachusetts and Federal Endangered Species Lists. In the 1980s, the estimated total population of cooters in Massachusetts was about 300, with the next-nearest population being 200 miles away in New Jersey.

Cooters resemble the common Eastern painted turtle, but are significantly larger, weighing up to 12 pounds. The basking turtles have a black to brown upper shell with faint reddish markings, which become more pronounced in males and darker with age.

MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program have released 5,000 “head-started” hatchlings into southeastern Massachusetts’ ponds and waterways since the program began 40 years ago.

Through the program, turtle hatchlings are removed from the wild and placed in a warm aquarium environment at educational and scientific facilities across the state for eight to nine months before being released back into the wild, accelerating their growth and protecting them from predators during their first year of life when they are most vulnerable.

MassWildlife and the IRWA will continue to monitor the movements of the released cooter to help determine if there are more than two of the species present in the Ipswich River.

Paddlers are encouraged to keep an eye out for the species along the river, especially in Topsfield and Ipswich, and share photos by email at nheritage@mass.gov

Michael McHugh can be contacted at mmchugh@northofboston.com or at 781-799-5202

IPSWICH — An endangered species of turtle was caught and released back into the Ipswich River last week after being spotted sitting on the rocks directly below the Ipswich Mills Dam.

Ipswich River Watershed Association (IRWA) staff and MassWildlife investigated the reported sighting to discover a male Northern red-bellied cooter. The seemingly lonesome turtle was then brought into MassWildlife for further assessment and to be microchipped with a VHF radio transmitter so its movements can be monitored over the remainder of the summer.

There was no data to suggest the turtle came from known populations in southeastern Massachusetts. So, MassWildlife and US Fish and Wildlife decided to release him back into the Ipswich River — above the dam, as its behavior suggested it was attempting to move upstream, and it is a freshwater species that’s less suitable for tidal habitats.

“We could not conclusively determine that the male from the dam had originated in southeastern Massachusetts, so it was not clearly the best management decision to release the turtle in that area,” MassWildlife Herpetologist Mike Jones said.

“And because the animal found near Peatfield landing and reported last year was clearly different from the male found at the dam, we would like to better understand the extent and size of this occurrence.”

The cooter sighting was the second ever recorded in the Ipswich River, and the first to be microchipped.

Last year, as the Ipswich Mills Dam removal pursued permitting approval, the Ipswich River Watershed Association submitted photos for review, which happened to capture images of another red-bellied cooter. The discovery is not expected to delay the planned dam removal.

Although the nearest known population of the species is far away in Plymouth, archaeological evidence suggests they inhabited the Ipswich River 1,000 years ago, making this the first confirmed sighting in modern times.

“We’re very excited to be working with MassWildlife to learn more about the red-bellied cooter and what their place in the Ipswich River might be,” IRWA Restoration Program Director Neil Shea said.

“The opportunity to track this animal and learn more about its behavior is very unique and speaks to the incredible biodiversity that we have throughout the Ipswich River.”

Northern red-bellied cooters are listed as endangered on both the Massachusetts and Federal Endangered Species Lists. In the 1980s, the estimated total population of cooters in Massachusetts was about 300, with the next-nearest population being 200 miles away in New Jersey.

Cooters resemble the common Eastern painted turtle, but are significantly larger, weighing up to 12 pounds. The basking turtles have a black to brown upper shell with faint reddish markings, which become more pronounced in males and darker with age.

MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program have released 5,000 “head-started” hatchlings into southeastern Massachusetts’ ponds and waterways since the program began 40 years ago.

Through the program, turtle hatchlings are removed from the wild and placed in a warm aquarium environment at educational and scientific facilities across the state for eight to nine months before being released back into the wild, accelerating their growth and protecting them from predators during their first year of life when they are most vulnerable.

MassWildlife and the IRWA will continue to monitor the movements of the released cooter to help determine if there are more than two of the species currently present in the Ipswich River.

Paddlers are encouraged to keep an eye out for the species along the river, especially in Topsfield and Ipswich, and share photos by email at nheritage@mass.gov

Michael McHugh can be contacted at mmchugh@northofboston.com or at 781-799-5202