Contra Costa County DCD

Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Western Pond Turtles (WPT) – representing both Actinemys pallida (Southwestern) and Actinemys marmorata (Northwestern) – are experiencing rapid declines across their range due to climate change, habitat fragmentation, and urban encroachment. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed federal protections for both species under the Endangered Species Act, highlighting the urgency for proactive conservation measures. Very little is known about WPT nesting behavior or upland habitat use in east Contra Costa County. It is known that upland habitat is critical for nesting, with adult females traveling hundreds of meters from aquatic sites to lay eggs, and hatchlings often remaining in terrestrial environments for many months. However, conservation and restoration efforts typically focus on aquatic habitats, leaving a significant blind spot in our understanding and protection of essential life stages.

The East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy, through a grant from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, is supporting research on WPT. This study, conducted by biologists with the Alameda and Contra Costa Resource Conservation Districts, will help us better understand how to protect habitat for these turtles. Biologists are placing GPS devices to the turtles to track their movements and identify nesting habitat.