Summit County search discovers rare spotted turtle last seen locally about 10 years ago

Cowboy_Ken

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By Bob Downing , Beacon Star Journal, Published: May 1, 2014

For three years, Ramsey Langford searched for a spotted turtle in two Summit County parks. And found nothing.

Even Bigfoot hunters get more action.

This all changed last week with the trapping of a spotted turtle — the first seen in Summit County in at least 10 years.

“It was an awesome day. It was an unbelievable day,” Langford, a park biologist with Summit Metro Parks, said of the discovery of the turtle with its distinctive yellow spots.

“It came as an absolute surprise, one of the best surprises ever,” he said. “We had found nothing for years. We weren’t losing hope, but suddenly it’s here ... It came out of the blue.

“This is a milestone in my life and for the park. It’s just unbelievable. It’s just so exciting.”

A park volunteer found the turtle, a female, while checking a trap in southern Summit County last week. The volunteer called Langford, who initially thought the call was a prank.

He carefully measured the female turtle. Its shell was 4½ inches long. Its body was 5½ inches in length. It weighed 4½ ounces.

The healthy turtle was photographed, and an identification chip and a tracking transmitter were implanted.

The turtle, estimated at 3½ years old, was then released in the Firestone Metro Park area. The exact location is not being disclosed to help prevent collectors from trying to capture it.

Langford is optimistic that the lone spotted turtle, known as a social creature, could lead park biologists to family or friends, speculating that she could be part of a bigger colony of perhaps 30 spotted turtles.

This could boost efforts in Northeast Ohio to help the spotted turtle, a state-threatened species and an increasingly rare turtle.

Summit Metro Parks is part of a multiagency effort to aid the spotted turtle by recovering eggs when possible and helping young spotted turtles survive the first four years of their lives in captivity.

At present, two 2-year-old spotted turtles are safe and comfortable in the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

The preservation effort also includes the Medina County Park District, Lake Metroparks, Geauga Park District, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Greater Cleveland Aquarium, with financial support from Wild4Forever, a grass-roots animal conservation group based in Norton.

The female turtle in Summit County was trapped in a wetland area in a wire mesh minnow trap baited with fish-flavored cat food.

The trap contained a rubber spotted turtle decoy that park volunteers had painted.

The shallow water was flecked by floating bits of green-colored duckweed. Cattails poke from the muddy-bottomed pool.

Langford, in his waders, ended up in mud to his hips, trying to wrestle the first two traps out of the water to check them.

The spotted turtle, Langford said, is something of a specialist, unlike the painted turtles and red-earred sliders that are commonly seen in local ponds, streams and canals. It seems to favor shallow wetlands instead, he said.

There is growing evidence that the spotted turtle spends a great deal of its time out of the water and moving through meadows and woodlands and can cover 50 to 100 acres.

The local 2014 trapping effort, with 16 traps, will continue through the end of May at the two park sites, Langford said.

The spotted turtle is very sensitive to pollutants and toxic chemicals and disappears with declining water quality.

Its numbers have dwindled in many areas because of loss of habitat. Ohio is No. 2 among the 50 states for the greatest loss of wetlands to farming and development.

It has not been found during park searches in Medina County but has been found in good numbers in spots in Portage and Geauga counties, Langford said.

The spotted turtle has been found in the past in five locales in Summit County, said Mike Johnson, chief of resource management for the county park district.

The last confirmed report came about 10 years ago from the Liberty Park area in northern Summit County.

“We’re just thrilled and very happy that the spotted turtle is still here,” Langford said.

Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or [email protected].
 

Anthony P

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So sad... I can remember the first time that I saw one in the wild, finally. It felt like I never would have the chance. It was such an amazing feeling, but it's sad that it's gotten to that point with so many unique and amazing species.

Thanks for sharing this Ken..
 

lisa127

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I live very near here. I always knew I could not keep a spotted turtle as a pet as they are native to here, but I had never ever actually seen one. This is good to hear!
 

bouaboua

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Even Bigfoot hunters get more action. I like how this reporter/writer put it....

The trap contained a rubber spotted turtle decoy that park volunteers had painted. This is another first, I ever know of Turtle decoy.....very creative and talented volunteers..... LOL

What a great read.

Thank you Mr. Cowboy for sharing it.
 

tortoise_man2

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I live in Michigan and have found a few spotted turtles near my dad's work. He works at a water treatment plant as the engineering manager. This plant heats up all the water around it, resulting in a marsh like area that the turtles love...
 

diamondbp

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What a great story. My brothers favorite has always been spotted turtles. I've never had the privilege of seeing one in person.
 

Maverick

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Awesome, this is literally with in 3 miles of my home.
 
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