Turtle Nesting Habitat Protected in Deering
The Town of Deering recently conveyed a conservation easement on 47 acres to the Forest Society, adding to a large block of conservation land and protecting important turtle nesting habitat.
This newly conserved tract includes an old sand pit used as a nesting area by various turtle species living in the adjacent wetlands. Over the past few years, the town has worked to reclaim the pit and revegetate the disturbed area.
Protecting connected landscapes helps maintain viable populations of turtles, which require both wetland and upland habitats. During spring and early summer, female turtles seek sandy, sparsely vegetated areas to lay their eggs and often must travel considerable distances to find suitable nesting habitat. They face many dangers as they travel over land to and from nesting sites, including being killed on roadways or eaten by predators. Hatchling turtles must find their way to wetland areas and can encounter many obstacles including roads, rip rap, curbs, and drains.
This newly conserved land provides a narrow connection between the reclaimed pit and the adjacent 700-acre Deering Wildlife Sanctuary.
Founded in 1901, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is the state’s oldest and largest non-profit land conservation organization. Supported by 10,000 families and businesses, the Forest Society’s mission is to perpetuate the state’s forests by promoting land conservation and sustainable forestry. For more information, visit www.forestsociety.org.