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Spotted Turtle - Clemmys guttata
The Vermont River Conservancy (VRC) in cooperation with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources recently purchased a key endangered species parcel in southern Vermont. The 17-acre parcel was immediately transferred to the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. Total cost for the property was $138,000.
In the 1980’s a spotted turtle was found on a road near a wetland complex in Southeastern Vermont. Biologists Mark DesMeules, Charles Johnson and others subsequently found several more as they searched for a population. In the late 1990’s, Steve Parren of the Vermont Nongame and Natural Heritage Program began radio tagging spotted turtles to track their movements through the wetland complex. Parren continues to monitor this site, which supports the only known population in Vermont.
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When land beside the wetland complex in 2004 was being subdivided for development, Parren contacted the VRC for help. Developers were proposing a five home subdivision. The VRC met with the developers, obtained site control for the period of an appraisal, and then in January 2006 negotiated and signed a purchase and sale agreement with sufficient time to raise funds for the purchase. The Agency of Natural Resources Land Acquisition Review Committee (LARC) gave the green light for state ownership for this important property and the VRC applied to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) for funding. In January, VHCB granted VRC $118,000 toward the project’s total cost. The balance was paid by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
VRC closed the deal on June 8, 2007 after surmounting many hurtles. VRC then immediately transferred title to the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife to manage the land. Parren said “We will now be able to develop new nesting opportunities for the turtles to help reduce the impacts of raccoons and humans”. More turtles will live longer. More turtles will have success during the breeding season. Female turtles will have an easier time finding safe nesting areas, and more hatchlings will live to reproductive age.
VRC wishes to thank all partnering agencies, especially ANR and VHCB, private land owners, those who helped discover the Vermont population, monitor the site and protect the habitat, helping to give this beautiful little species more than a fighting chance.
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