First, I would like to thank all the people who checked out my last post on the box turtles. The response has been pretty overwhelming and I’ve enjoyed everybody’s comments. The Eastern Box Turtle isn’t the only turtle to be found at the Falls of the Ohio State Park and this post is about that other mysterious and rare reptile. It’s called the Cottonwood Turtle (Terrapene populus) and its habitat overlaps that of the box turtle. On a warm and humid morning I was exploring the eastern section of the park around the debris line formed by a retreating Ohio River. Plastic bottles and containers and the ever-present polystyrene chunks helped define the high-water mark. We have had so much rain here and it’s officially Kentuckiana’s wettest spring on record! I was mesmerized watching and listening to the Cedar Waxwings pursuing each other from mulberry tree to mulberry tree and whose fruits are just now beginning to ripen to a glossy black. The air was filled with the fine downy fluff produced by the catkins of our giant cottonwood trees and seemed like so much snow falling in ultra slow motion. The chances of inhaling this fluff are real and white airy drifts were forming on the ground where the air currents pushed this gossamer material with its tiny secret of seeds within. With so much going on, I was surprised to catch a slight bit of movement inside a nearby hollow log. I remained still and this is what I saw.
Emerging into the light of a new day was this very ancient looking turtle. Of course I recognized what it is and determined to follow it and make a record of my observations. I kept a discreet distance away and tried not to make any sudden movements or loud noises so the turtle would act as naturally as possible. I kept up with it for a several hours and then I had to pull myself away for home.
The Cottonwood Turtle is characterized by a high-domed carapace that the original inhabitants of the Ohio Valley used for war and ceremonial helmets. Unlike the box turtles which it shares some affinities with…the Cottonwood Turtle cannot retract its head and limbs fully into its shell. This makes it vulnerable to predators. I watched my turtle crawling over the plastic and Styrofoam debris left by the last flood. It seemed to be going somewhere with a purpose and I followed discreetly behind it.
The previous night we had another tremendous rain storm with high winds. Mud, broken branches and leaf litter evidence can be found everywhere. I followed my turtle to a large cottonwood branch and saw it engaging in the activity that gives this remarkable reptile its name.
Over the course of about an hour, I watched the turtle carrying mouthfuls of the Cottonwood fluff to a hole that it had previously prepared. It made about a half a dozen trips back and forth from the downed branch to what looked to my eye to be an abandoned groundhog hole that the turtle retrofitted for its own purpose. The fluff was carried into the hole where a special chamber was being prepared for this turtle’s eggs!
Here is the Cottonwood Turtle about to finish laying her eggs. I observed about five ping pong ball-sized eggs being deposited upon their bed of cottonwood fiber. I suppose the fluff cushions the eggs and perhaps as this material decays provides some modicum of warmth to assist in the incubation? From what I have read, new turtles should be emerging from their subterranean nursery after sixty days. After the turtle covered her nest with her back legs she moved on. From this moment, the eggs and baby turtles to be are on their own. I gently uncovered some of the soil and photographed this single egg. Afterwards, I placed the egg back into the nest, re-covered it and went on my way happy to have witnessed this ancient rite of life.
It occurred to me on my walk back through the tangle of bottomland, that this turtle might be benefitting the tree as well? I haven’t heard or read anything concerning a link, but what if? The fluff contains minute seeds and the act of burying them might aid in propagating this tree. The turtle places these seeds a little deeper than usual which might encourage stronger and deeper root growth. Since this area is frequently altered by the river, it would make sense for the tree to have a deeper hold on the soil? I came across another downed cottonwood branch and admired all the fluff it was producing. It all looked so beautiful and magical in broad daylight.
Overhead the orioles were collecting their own materials to build their amazing hanging basket nests. And the Cedar Waxwings were fueling up on the mulberries in preparation for their long migration up into the north country. One last image of one of these waxwings. Such an interesting and beautiful bird so uniquely marked.
Although I may have fooled some people out there (wink, wink)…the Cottonwood Turtle doesn’t actually exist! I made it from junk I found here in this very real environment at the Falls of the Ohio. The shell or carapace is the cushioning from inside an old bicycle or motorcycle helmet and I have found several of these helmets after the last flood.
I used three pieces of Styrofoam…the shell, head, and one piece under a chunk of fiberglass-like material to fill the space inside the helmet. Limbs are pieces of found wood attached to the lightweight fiberglass. Everything is joined and pegged together with wood skewers. I did use some found plastic for the actual neck and mouth of the turtle. The eyes are round lead fishing weights and the nostrils are pieces of coal. Thanks for tagging along!
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 