Post-Release Survivorship in a New Population of Blanding's Turtles Established Using Headstarted and Directly Released Turtles

• DOI: 10.1656/045.031.s1210
• Publication Date: 2024-06-14T06:24:52Z
• Authors: Jared M. Green; Stephanie L. Koch; Kurt A. Buhlmann; Brian A. Bastarache; Kourtnie A. Bouley; Brian O. Butler; Richard B. Chandler; Tracey D. Tuberville
• Keywords: Hatchling; Population viability analysis; Wildlife refuge

Emydoidea blandingii (Blanding's Turtle) is a species facing variety of anthropogenic threats that decrease population viability. We initiated project to establish new Blanding's Turtles on National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts using hatchlings obtained from nearby, robust donor population. released 440 headstarted individuals and 401 directly between 2007 2013 conducted multiple years post-release monitoring via aquatic trapping estimate survival. Between 2014 2021, we an additional 824 433 1 year 2021 size. First survival turtles was 6 times (0.72 vs. 0.12, respectively), but annual both groups 0.78–0.90 subsequent years. Only 19% at <60 mm carapace length (CL) were subsequently recaptured compared 60% those ≥60 CL, supporting 60 CL as target minimum release The mean estimates 2 different study designs 164 202, with 91 encountered. Now early the are approaching reproductive maturity, recommend resampling expanding efforts include more wetlands assess long-term survival, abundance, distribution this newly established Our results, combined other evaluations headstarting across species' range, add credence use population-recovery tool for Turtles.