BOG TURTLE
THE SMALLEST U.S NATIVE FRESHWATER TURTLE
How Are Humans Threatening the Survival of the Beloved Bog Turtle?
Slow and Steady Wins the Race, but Bog Turtles Are Declining at a Rapid Rate!
Scientists are unsure of the exact current population of Bog Turtles, (partially due to the fact that their small size makes them hard to find) but it is estimated to be around 2,500-10,000 (Endangered Species Coalition, 2019). Of this small number, Bog Turtles have been divided into two populations separated by 250 miles, which leads to a lack of genetic diversity, and this makes these turtles less able to evolve to changing conditions. As you can see on the map to the right, courtesy of US Geological Survey, 2019, the
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Southern Population includes: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia
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Northern population includes: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland
Click on each letter to learn more about the topic
Scientists Have Made A System to Measure Species’ Threats
This system can be remembered by the acronym H.I.P.P.C.O.:
abitat loss
nvasive species
ollution
opulation
limate change
verharvesting