Nebraska Broadband • Entered by Kathleen Emry-Mefferd on September 4, 2022
Turtle fence stewardship project
June 11, 2022 – June 13, 2022
Participants and Hours
| Pre Planning hours | 6 |
| Post Admin hours | 2 |
| Activity Hours | 6 |
| Participants | 6 |
| Total Hours | 44 |
Key Issue: Water-related Conservation
Activity Type: Stewardship (monitoring, sampling, planting, etc.)
Key Partners: Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Measurable Outcomes
Outcome 1: Wildlife monitored
Outcome 2: Clean-up
Outcome 3: Advocacy actions [/if 1231]
Short Description of Activity
We repaired/replaced 4 sections of chain link fence @ 250′ ft long each. We dug trenches for fencing to be set into. We monitored the turtles that we saw, observed their body condition, and if they were in the stage to start laying their eggs.
Reflection/Evaluation
This project was a success. We knew how much fence that were going to need to take care of, we just didn’t know if it was going to be replaced or repaired, until we got it looked at and inspected under the water. While doing the work, we observed the turtles as they approached the culvert, and we were able to catch them as they came up on the other side of the highway. We monitored their body condition and checked the females to see if they were ready to start laying their eggs. We observed the snapping turtles, and actually saw several females moving along the shoulders of the road, looking for spots to lay their eggs. We did not, however, disturb them for obvious reasons. We completed all 4 sections of the repair/replacement, and the job was considered a success.
Photos/Uploads
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Upload 2 |
Upload 3 |
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Photo Captions
1. me and 2 outside volunteers and a Refuge employee, in front of the info board @Valentine Wildlife
Refuge
2. Dawn and myself, on the right, holding our tools in the “victory” pose
3. me with a Blanding’s turtle, on the endangered species list
4. another Blanding’s turtle thinking that it is safe, because it’s not looking at me…
4.