The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Alliance of Forest Owners, and the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement have released a resource that provides guidance for forest managers to support wood turtles on their woodlands.

“Wood Turtles: Conservation Considerations for Forest Landowners” recommends voluntary actions that managers of working forests in the Northeast can take to help conserve the species, which has experienced population declines across its range, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Developed with input from 16 conservation agencies and forest management organizations, the document covers:

Wildlife-Friendly Practices: Specific forest-management practices that are not only compatible with, but beneficial for, wood turtles;
Strategic Timber Harvesting: Timing harvests to minimize disruption to wood turtle activities;
Mitigating Vehicle Risk: Implementing strategies to reduce harm to wood turtles from vehicular traffic;
Turtle-Friendly Stream Crossings: Guidance on materials and design, whether upgrading, replacing, or installing new structures; and
Nesting Area Enhancement: Transforming excavated areas and former gravel pits into valuable nesting sites for wood turtles.

To learn more, visit wildlifeconservationinitiative.org.

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