Participants of the 2007 Box Turtle Conservation Workshop

The 3rd Box Turtle Conservation and Ecology Workshop was a great success. Over 120 participants from 22 states and the District of Columbia spent two days (November 9 and 10, 2007) sharing and learning about efforts to better understand and protect wild populations of box turtles. The workshop was held at the Londontown Public House and Gardens, a park in Edgewater, Maryland. Keynote speaker Dr. John Iverson of Earlham College described the highlights of his 25 years of research into the life history strategies and ecology of the Ornate Box Turtles that inhabit the Sand Hills of Nebraska. He provided an inspiring and informative presentation, and the audience was extremely impressed with the habitat restoration efforts he'd accomplished on his own property in Indiana. It was a delight to have Dr. Iverson with us for the entire workshop.

Seventeen speakers filled Friday with interesting and well organized scientific talks. Topics ranged from population assessment and ecology to the impacts of habitat fragmentation on population structure. Public education was the focus of several talks, and one talk described the disturbing and widespread practice of "racing" box turtles as a form of entertainment. Some study populations are large and healthy, while others are declining and may be producing few young turtles. A number of populations are under study in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arizona and Maryland. Most researchers are notching the turtles they study as a way to determine movements of individuals, and as a way to better estimate population size and density. Radio telemetry is being used extensively to determine day-to-day movements, and to generate estimates of home range size. While some studies are funded by government resource agencies, many are locally or even presonally funded.

The poster session took place on Friday afternoon. Seven posters described a variety of interesting research studies, ranging from a summary of laws and regulations concerning possession and commercial sale of box turtles; to efforts to save turtles in the path of a state highway project in Maryland; to the impacts of habitat restoration on populations.

On Saturday we met at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Maryland. Veterinarians and wildlife disease specialists presented two papers on the impacts of disease on wild box turtles. A discussion among workshop attendees followed, moderated by John Groves of the North Carolina Zoo. A number of important issues were brought up by the audience and from a panel of seven experts. The passion and concern that many feel for the plight of box turtles was apparent in the discussion and comments that followed.

A banquet on Friday night combined excellent food with camaraderie, plenty of good wine, and an insightful and provocative lecture by author and illustrator David M. Carroll. David recounted the events in his youth that catalyzed his life long interest in turtles, wetlands, and natural places, as well as his growing concern over the deteriorating state of our environment in general. He emphasized the importance of preserving and protecting large tracts of land as the best way to ensure

the long-term survival of box turtles. Workshop organizers had hoped to attract a number of state resource managers from states where box turtles are found. While we had some success in achieving this objective, we realize that tight budgets and busy schedules are realities that must be considered as we move forward to better engage state agencies in taking steps to monitor and assess box turtle populations.

Based on the written evaluations received from attendees, the workshop was very beneficial and was time well spent. Folks especially rated high the excellent quality of the scientific presentations, the impressive combined mass of gathered box turtle expertise, and the delicious qualities of the food. Chair cushions received low marks.

Thanks go to many individuals and organizations that made the workshop possible. First, thanks to the organizing committee: Sandy Barnett, John Groves, Susan Hagood, Brian Wallace and Christopher Swarth.This group worked steadily for almost a year to carry off this workshop! We also thank, Colin Barnett, Jean Mangenello, Mike Quinlan, Susan Matthews, Rachael Dickey, Eugene Meyer, Les Silva, Bob Williams, Mary O'Neill, and Susan Blackstone for their help.

The following organizations provided donations, sponsorship or both: The Humane Society of the United States, Mid-Atlantic Turtle & Tortoise Society, North Carolina Zoo, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Friends of Jug Bay, the James and Anne Robinson Foundation, Whalen Properties, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, and the Gulf Coast Turtle and Tortoise Society.

Next steps: We will be preparing a White Paper for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. This document will summarize the state of the knowledge about box turtle populations, the threats to their survival, and the potential solutions that could halt these declines. In addition to the White Paper we will be discussing a variety of other approaches to achieving our goals and to plans for future workshops. We will be initiating a state-wide effort in Maryland, modeled after those programs in North Carolina and Massachusetts, to begin gathering information about the distribution, density and health of box turtle populations.

We are always open to suggestions and ideas, so please get in touch with us with your opinions.