Bay County Box Turtle Project
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We are a citizens science initiative aimed at the conservation of box turtles and their habitats. Additional photos can be sent as well.
06/21/2024
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In summer 1967, eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) number 7 was marked at Powdermill Nature Reserve. This turtle wasn’t seen again until summer 2004 and summer 2009 when it was spotted in nearly the same place digging nests. Last week, the bird banding crew found her digging another nest almost exactly where it was reported in 2004 and 2009.
The crew carefully and quickly noted the turtle’s markings and were able to match it with the data from her initial marking, and left her alone to continue her egg laying activities.
In 1967, this turtle was aged as “22 +/- years old” indicating that she was probably already two decades old, and probably hatched in 1945. Although ~79 years old seems like a long time for a small animal to live, box turtles are reported to live longer than 100 years!
05/19/2023
In celebration of WILD TURTLES, we will be at the Trash Market in St. Andrews this Saturday from 6-9 pm crafting box turtles and spreading the news about the Bay County Box Turtle Project. Come see us! We'll be inside Gypsybeach Treasured Kreations.
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Box Turtle Conservation in Bay County
The Bay County Box Turtle Project is a citizens science initiative aimed at the conservation of box turtles and their habitats in neighborhoods of Bay County, Florida. This page is meant to provide information about the project and to enlist the help of our neighbors in collecting scientific data on resident Gulf Coast Box Turtles.
Box turtles, like all residents in Bay County, are adapting to the dramatic changes caused by Hurricane Michael. Box turtles seek shelter in the shaded, brushy cover of wood piles, thick vegetation, and shrubbery- habitat features that have been affected by the storm and its aftermath. We believe that a thriving box turtle population indicates that ample green spaces exist throughout a neighborhood to provide food and shelter, and pathways for turtles and other wildlife. As we clean-up, rebuild, and replant our neighborhoods, we intend to monitor the status of box turtles as a biological indicator of the recovery of the natural elements that make Bay County neighborhoods a unique and special place for all.
Our Geographic Focus- We are currently tagging turtles and requesting your sighting reports in: The Cove (Panama City), College Point (Lynn Haven), and Lower Grand Lagoon (Panama City Beach).
Turtles are measured, photographed, and tagged by a small group of professional biologists, and then released at the point of capture. These activities are being conducted under a scientific collecting permit issued by the state of Florida, permit #LSSC-19-00012. Each turtle is given a small vinyl tag with a unique 4-digit code (e.g., M233) and is given a name for future identification.
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Website
Address
Cherry Street
Panama City, FL
32401