Size and characteristics of a Wood Turtle, Clemmys insculpta, population in Southern Quebec

Abstract

A Wood Turtle (Clemmys insculpta) population was studied along the Sutton River from May to October 1995. Fifty-two Wood Turtles were captured a total of 97 times at the rate of 0.53 turtles per hour of search time. May appeared to be the best time to survey Wood Turtles. Among North American populations, Wood Turtles along the Sutton River are average in size. Our results, added to those of other studies, support the existence of a negative relationship between Wood Turtle size and the length of the frost-free period. Sex-ratio was not different from 1 : 1. Adults (CL ≤ 160 mm) represented 82% of our captures. The remaining were juveniles. Two hypotheses could explain the absence of turtles younger than five years old in our sample. Hatchling recruitment could be non-existent or very low during one or many successive cool summers; our survey method could also be biased. Wood Turtle density in the study area was estimated at 1.2 turtles per 100 m of river (1.0 - 1.4).