Turtle M17 was found crossing the road on 7/7/11 after a warm afternoon thunderstorm. This male spent about a month in the area passing very close to at least 2 tracked females, but on August 10th he traveled back across the road and left the area for the remainder of the season.
After successfully crossing multiple roads, ridges and pastures, he walked into the St. Mary's Wilderness Area (USFS) where he hibernated, and was lost. He was not observed mating this season.
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Turtle M17 was re-found y a park employee during the 2023 season in a clear meadow, having crossed the road from his last known travel area. He was not caught so could not be re-tagged for future tracking.
PROMOTION OF GENE FLOW BY TRANSIENT INDIVIDUALS IN AN OTHERWISE SEDENTARY POPULATION OF BOX TURTLES, A. R. KIESTER, August 18, 1981
Terrapene carolina carolina
A Relict Population Doomed To Extinction?
Turtle M66, a large and very old male, was found crossing the road on 6/3/21 and tracked into hibernation in mid-november, after tracking him cross-country for 2.2 GPS miles.
Thought to be a transient, he was tracked for 3 years, he was found to be a member of an adjacent local population, and he may return to this study area to meet and mate in the future.
He was also tagged with a message vial in case he is found in the future.
