Options to Reduce Road Mortality of Blanding's Turtle at New Boston Air Force Station, New Hampshire. Final Report

摘要

The Blanding's turtle is listed by the State of New Hampshire as endangered. It was first positively identified at New Boston Air Force Station (NBAFS) in 1997, and from 1997 through 2003 there were 17 confirmed sightings of Blanding's turtles at NBAFS. Both adult and juvenile turtles have been observed at the station, and it is known that reproduction occurs there. The entrance road, Galaxy Way, and other roads in the Operations Area currently have traditional 6-inches (15-cm) curbs, which serve as barriers to Blanding's turtle movements. Within these roadways and parking areas, eight hatchling turtles have been found killed by automobiles since 2002. Hatchling turtles also could become trapped in stormwater drainage systems along NBAFS roads. A literature review revealed a small but growing number of potential strategies for curb modifications to reduce road-related mortalities of hatchling Blanding's turtles at NBAFS. We present several options for reducing turtle morality at NBAFS.