The western pond turtle (Emys marmorata) is native to the west coast of North America, and although it is a species of special concern under the California Endangered Species Act, there is no recovery plan to address its declining populations. A known significant limiting factor of western pond turtle conservation is low recruitment and survival; therefore, it is essential to focus on predation events during the breeding season in June, July, and August. Understanding local predation patterns within breeding populations can give insight to a limiting factor within turtle populations and promote future conservation projects and management strategies.

Objective: This project will study the western pond turtle and its associated nest predators in an effort to better understand the predation of female adult turtles and their nests. During the summer and fall of 2021 in Humboldt County, IERC scientists monitored nesting sites of western pond turtles with remotely-triggered cameras to document visitation and disruption of sites by predators.  Additionally, we are performing genetic testing on carcasses and egg fragments to determine which predator species are preying on turtles and their nests.