Once the Rose Swamp was cleared, the Turtles either returned, or started acting normally again. I’d watched for years to see any Turtles on land after the “Rose Swamp” flooded, and saw no signs. The neighbors have seen fewer, which is good since their area is landscaped and heavily-mulched, so I’m hoping they are migrating to this area.
In early years, they were common, moving from water to land regularly. We hadn’t seen a single one for at least 5 years after the front area was bulldozed.
Perhaps I just didn’t see them, due to the overbrush; or they weren’t moving to lay eggs, but they are becoming a regular sighting now, and acting more normally. Where I found animals or dens, I moved dead rose bundles back over their dens for protection. These bundles were not sprayed, but cut and left to die.
Will remove them in the Fall.
Bundling Rose bushes. Push the brush away, rolling into a tight pile. Cut and brush the stems as you work. This avoids losing track of the small stems. I’ve started dipping the cut tips into a Mason Jar (plastic lid ) of Herbicide to avoid over-brush. It has worked well.
Once done, I often tie the bundle with white string and use that to haul it out.
