Management and Captive Breeding

The Bog Turtle in Tennessee

Preserving a Threatened Species through Captive Breeding and Habitat Protection

The bog turtle, Glyptemys muhlenbergii, the smallest turtle in North America, is a federally threatened species found in 12 eastern U.S. states. Bog turtles live in wetlands that are becoming degraded due to human activities and land use practices. Bog turtles are dependent on the native vegetation found in healthy bogs, fens, and marshes. Water level fluctuations and farm runoff have encouraged the growth of invasive plants in most of the bog turtle habitat in Tennessee.

Bern Tryon, Director of Herpetology at the Knoxville Zoo, is leading an effort to preserve bog turtle habitat and increase wild bog turtle populations. Tactics including bog turtle ecology studies, fostering relationships with private landowners, and a captive breeding and release program. With the support of AZA's Conservation Endowment Fund, a field technician was hired to study one of the target bogs, where a record 48 turtle traps were placed and nine released turtles tracked using radio-telemetry during the 2006 season.

©Bern Tryon

Work on this program began in 1986, when the species was first found in Tennessee. Since then, project has grown into a multi-faceted effort that focuses on habitat management, wetlands restoration, breeding and head-starting, and community education. In partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Knoxville Zoo has released a total of 122 turtles since 1991 in one target bog alone.

Much has been accomplished in the past 20 years, but there is much more yet to do. In 2003 the International Turtle Survival Alliance named the bog turtle one of the 25 Most Endangered turtle species in the world. Tryon states, "We must ensure that Tennessee does not become a data point for this continuing decline of this beautiful little species." With a second year of funding from CEF's 2006 awards, the program will continue to promote the long-term survival of bog turtles.