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Turtle monitoring

Planning and conservation  ›  Natural areas, parks and trails  ›  Restoring the landscape  ›  Wildlife monitoring  ›  Turtle monitoring

Turtle monitors conduct visual surveys of basking and nesting activities of native turtles inhabiting Metro natural areas.

Native turtle populations have declined in the Willamette Valley due to a combination of factors including habitat loss, competition for resources with non-native turtle species, and predation from bullfrogs. Metro has partnered with Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Zoo and Bureau of Environmental Services to assess and conserve the remaining native turtle population in the Portland metropolitan area as part of the Lower Willamette Turtle Conservation Project.Visit the Lower Willamette Turtle Conservation Project site

To assist with this larger project, Metro’s wildlife monitoring program is conducting surveys to develop an inventory of native turtle populations at Metro natural areas. Surveys focus on two native species of turtle, the western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii) and the northwestern pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata marmorata). Volunteers will participate by conducting basking surveys and nesting surveys. Surveys are conducted in the summer, when turtles are most active. Basking usually occurs midday on sunny days while nesting activity occurs around dusk.

Related Internet links

• Oregon Zoo's turtle conservation program

  (http://www.oregonzoo.org/conserve/species-recovery-and-conservation/western-pond-turtles)

• Lower Willamette Turtle Conservation Project

  (http://www.willametteturtles.com/)