Highlights
JUNE 2024 - Turtle Walk
TURTLE WALK - On this June walk, if we are lucky, we may find a turtle out for a walk searching for the ideal location to dig a nest hole. If we're very lucky we may find her already busy laying her eggs.
A turtle out for a walk.
JUNE 8, SATURDAY, at 8:00 A.M.
Annual Turtle Walk - We will meet at Mill Brook Bogs Wildlife Management Area, within the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve, Freetown, MA.
Walk as little or as much as you like. Insect repellent a good idea from April to November. Water and snack good to have on a walk. Rain cancels walk.
For information on our Massachusetts turtles and the survival difficulties they face, go here - https://www.mass.gov/guides/guide-to-helping-massachusetts-turtles
Directions to Mill Brook Bogs Wildlife Management Area (WMA) parking:
From Exit 11 on Route 24 take Route 79 north, approximately 2 mile, to Forge Road. Right on Forge Road, approximately 1/4 mile to Howland Road. Right, east, on Howland Road approximately one mile and a quarter to the wildlife management parking area on your right. If you get to the Freetown /Lakeville town line you've gone a little too far. Turn around and return west on Howland Road to the entrance to the parking area which will now be on your left.
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ACTIVITY ALERT - What is so rare as a day in June?
And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays;
Whether we look, or whether we listen,
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays;
Whether we look, or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see it glisten -
...James Russell Lowell
This past Juneperfect Saturday dawned sunny and warm, with a brisk breeze that kept the resident bog mosquitoes at bay, as we walked along searching for an expectant turtle out and about searching for the ideal sunny spot of sandy soil in which to dig a hole and lay her eggs.
Although on this June's walk we didn't catch any turtles in the act, we did see three or four sunning themselves close to water, found one spot where a turtles had already dug a nest hole, found an otter spraint site, took photos of a trusting ribbon snake, viewed blooming sheep laurel (Kalmia angustifolia) and the warm air was redolent from the blossoms of invasive, though beautiful at this time of the year, multiflora rose. A perfect morning for we Homo sapiens to be out in nature.
Following photos courtesy Liz Garant and Barry French.
Looking for nesting turtles
Ms Snapper enjoying, we hope, the June Turtle Walk
An eastern ribbon snake enjoying the sunshine. The ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus) is closely related to the more common eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis). Ribbon snakes like wetlands and shrubbery. Garter snakes are habitat generalists and may be found in meadows and fields, woods and even in urban backyards.
A garter snake for comparison.
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