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Photo courtesy of New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
Meet the bog turtle
The bog turtle is both small and colorful. Typically only about four inches long, this is one of the smallest turtles found in North America
according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Bog turtles are identified by the iconic orange, yellow or red spots on each side of their head.Most importantly, the bog turtle has been federally listed as threatened since 1997 and has been listed as
endangered in New Jersey since 1974.
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Patti Sapone | For The Star-Ledger
How many are there?
Exact numbers for the current bog turtle population are unknown, but it is estimated that between 2,500 and 10,000 of the turtles are currently alive according to the Endangered Species Coalition.
At home on the East Coast
Bog turtles are split into two distinct populations, according to the Endangered Species Coalition. The northern turtles are found in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. The southern population is found in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.In New Jersey, the largest population of bog turtles
lives in the northwestern part of the state though the turtles are also found in Central Jersey and South Jersey.
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Photo courtesy of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
A life of laying low
Bog turtles can live for more than 30 years,
according to the New York Department of Conservation, and that life is one of secrecy.The turtles stay mostly hidden except to sunbathe, and tend to eat what they can get with a preference for bugs. They hibernate in the winter (from October to April) and lay two to four eggs at a time in the spring. The eggs hatch around mid-September.