Overwintering behavior reduces mortality for a terrestrial turtle in forests managed with prescribed fire

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Wildlife Management
• Herpetology

Background:

• Prescribed fire is crucial for pyrogenic ecosystems but poses risks to wildlife.
• Understanding seasonal animal behavior is key to mitigating fire impacts on vulnerable species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the overwintering behavior of Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) and their interaction with prescribed fire.
• To determine if winter dormancy can be leveraged to minimize fire-related mortality in this species.

Main Methods:

• Radiotelemetry was used to track Eastern Box Turtles over eight years at two prescribed fire sites.
• Turtles' overwintering depths, emergence timing, habitat selection, and refuge fidelity were monitored.
• Interactions with fire events and resulting injuries or mortality were recorded.

Main Results:

• Eastern Box Turtles overwintered in hardwood and mesic habitats, burying 2.9-3.2 cm deep and emerging from late February to early April.
• Turtles exhibited high fidelity to overwintering refuges, but those in burned areas chose sites farther from previous refuges.
• No fire-related injury or mortality occurred during winter dormancy; all incidents happened during active seasons.

Conclusions:

• Timing prescribed fires to coincide with turtle winter dormancy can significantly reduce threats to their populations.
• Winter refugia provided thermal buffering, protecting turtles even when their sites burned.
• Balancing fire management with other conservation objectives is essential for species like the Eastern Box Turtle.