wood turtles

The wood turtles eats both animal and plant food items, including berries, herbs, algae, moss, fungi, grass, insects, mollusks, earthworms, dead fish, tadpoles, newborn mice and other turtles‘ eggs. It will forage on the ground, in the water, in herbaceous vegetation, and on logs.

Habitat

Prefer lowland hardwood forests and open wet meadows associated with moderate to fast current streams and rivers with sand or gravel substrates. May forage in upland deciduous mesic forest and open meadows in summer. Use south facing sandy river banks or flat sandy soil openings adjacent to rivers for nesting sites, including gravel banks, roadsides, fields, and meadows. Hatchling and juveniles prefer alder thickets associated with shorelines and are considered critical habitat for this segment of the population.



Activity

The wood turtles is primarily diurnal, although Farrell and Graham (1991) have observed that mating and nesting can extend into the night. wood turtles regulate their body temperatures by basking in the sun or cooling off in puddles and mud. Depending on local climate, wood turtles begin hibernating in October or November and emerge in April or May.

Breeding and Propagation

Male and female wood turtles often engage in a courtship ritual that involves swinging their heads at each other. When the female is receptive, the male mounts her, usually in shallow water. They are most likely to mate in spring and fall, although they can mate at any time they are not hibernating. After mating, usually in the early summer, the female turtles build a nest in a sunny, sandy bank near water. She can only produce one clutch, usually consisting of between 5 and 13 eggs, per year. Most eggs fall prey to raccoons, shrews, skunks, and other animals. Eggs hatch after between 47 and 69 days of incubation. It is reported that unlike most turtles, the sex of the hatchling is not dependent on the temperature of incubation. It is estimated that fewer than 30% of the wood turtles eggs laid hatch each year.

Ecology

The wood turtles is one of the most terrestrial turtles in the United States, and is usually found inhabiting forested areas associated with rivers or streams. The species prefers streams with harder substrates, moderate currents and clear water. The wood turtles is omnivorous and may be observed eating insects, worms, and even strawberries and blackberries! Interestingly, researchers in central Pennsylvania and Michigan have also observed wood turtles “stomping” for worms! The activity involves an individual stomping with one front foot several times and then switching and stomping with the other front foot. Researchers speculate that the vibrations created by the turtles “stomping” the ground may mimic the vibrations produced by raindrops…and as most people know, worms surface during rainfall events. Once a worm surfaces, the wood turtles quickly eats it.

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Bird House Buying Tips

All bird houses sold on the market are not suitable to birds. These bird houses will not attract any birds and re detrimental to the bird’s health. Please make sure you read the following tips and use them when you buy that bird house:

1. Dimensions: Different birds need different sizes of bird houses. Depending on the birds you want to keep check the area inside, the size of the entrance hole and the ground clearance of the hole. These are very important to attract suitable birds.

2. Ventilation and Sanitation: Make sure the bird house is well ventilated so that it does not heat up too much in summers. Also heck the sanitation and drainage holes to make sure that the baby birds do not drown.

3. Access: The insides of the bird house should be easily accessible so that you can inspect and monitor the nests. One side of the bird house should be hinged and easy to open.

4. Construction: The bid house should be properly constructed with non-toxic material. It should also be properly insulated with unpainted wooden board to keep out the cold and heat. If painted, the paint should be non-toxic.

5. Other Precautions: The entrance hole should be shaded by a roof extension to keep out the rain. No perches should be kept outside the entrance hole as it will encourage predators.

Bird Feeder tips

Before embarking upon a mission to buy a bird feeder, it is important that you assimilate knowledge on what kind of foods the bird you want to attract eats and the plants that attract it. Accumulation of some knowledge about the species of birds that frequent area would also help immensely. Placing the attractive plants in the garden along with the bird feeder will increase your chances of attracting the bird. Be ready to accept that the birds frequenting may not eat from your feeder but may feed on the insects and fruits of the plants you have placed for some time.

The most important factor of using a bird feeder is that the feeder should be placed in the same position for a long period of time and it should be regularly filled with food like clock work. Birds are creatures of habit and when they find food in your bird feeder, they will return regularly to it. If they do not find food there, they will move on to greener pastures.

Bird Feeders are of various kinds. The most common is the “Hopper” feeder. This feeder is built with a platform along with walls and a roof so that the food is protected form rain and wind. Always make sure the bird seed never gets wet, since it would drive the birds away.

The “tube” feeder is a transparent tube of plastic or glass designed to feed many birds at the same time. The “platform” feeder is a tray on which the bird seed can be placed. These feeders are incapable of protection from predators, squirrels and the natural elements. Some squirrel proof feeders are also available.

Make sure the bird housing and bird feeders are always cleaned regularly.

Don't Keep Your Pets Thirsty

Like human beings even animals need water. Water plays a very significant role by regulating the body temperature and dissolving all the unnecessary nutrients stored in the body that can cause various gastric problems later on. Dehydration causes kidney failure, heart disease and many other serious problems.

You should personally observe if the water stored in the house is purified to allow the pets to drink clean water. If your pets are not adequately consuming water and are suffering from depression, sunken eyes, dehydration then meet with the veterinarian who will prescribe certain intravenous fluids and will also diagnose the nature of the problem.

Special care should be taken to keep the water bowls free from all kinds of invasions such as microorganisms or bacteria. So once a day they should be rubbed with dish soap. The bowls should be placed at the right place to avoid knockouts, evaporation or any accidents that will cause the water to spill. Sanitary care is also required to keep the pets always healthy. The toilet lids should always be closed. All the animals do not sip water through the bowls. For example, exotic birds need the water to be dripping. So the veterinarians will provide the best advise. Different types of animals have different drinking habits and some are just peculiar, especially the reptiles. If you have difficulty in coping with their irregular habits then consult a veterinarian who will let you know their exact nature.