Observation
The shell of an Eastern Musk Turtle, also known as the Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus) was found in an unusual location near the Napanee River in the Village of Petworth. This turtle was dubbed ‘Stinkpot’ because it can release a musky, skunk-like odour from scent glands on the edge of its shell to deter predators (Ontario Turtle Conservation Center, 2017).
Location:
44 25’02’’N 76 45’32’’W
Petworth Village (east of Harrowsmith), Ontario, Canada
The resident who documented this observation was able to identify this Musk Turtle shell by the long pleural scutes on the carapace, smooth texture and distinct vertebral scutes on the dorsal surface of the carapace (Ontario Turtle Conservation Center, 2017). An Eastern Musk Turtle egg has a very small, high domed shell which differs from the much flatter eggshells of a Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) or the Red Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) (Ontario Turtle Conservation Center, 2017).
Female Stinkpots are known to nest near water exposed to direct sunlight. Females dig and lay their eggs in shallow soil, decaying vegetation or rotting wood, in muskrat lodges, on the open ground or in rock crevices (Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario, 2014).
This event is unusual because this shell was found above ground in the middle of a farmer’s field approximately 750m from the Napanee river. The Napanee river is a fast-moving river with a large stretch of rapids a rocky bottom and contains little vegetation. This river is an unusual place for this specific turtle to be located nearby as the Stinkpot is commonly found in slow-moving water systems with an abundant amount of vegetation and a muddy bottom (Ontario Nature, 2018).
Interpretation
The fact that this shell was found exposed in a farmer’s field raises two possible theories:
• A predator such as a raccoon, fox or heron hunting for food, found this egg and removed it from it’s original nest.
• A female Stinkpot was looking for a place to nest because it’s habitat was disrupted, and the turtle was displaced.
One of the primary threats to Musk Turtles is the destruction of their natural habitats due to wetland drainage, pollution and shoreline development (Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario, 2014). There has been an increase in residential development along the Napanee river. This shell was found near a newly built road and a residential development. It is very possible that this Stinkpot’s was displaced because it’s habitat was disturbed, and the turtle was unable to lay its eggs in its proper nesting habitat (Ontario Nature, 2018).
Expert Consult / Dialogue with Colleague
Due to time constraints, no expert was consulted with regards to this observation prior to the submission of this research brief.
Joe Crowley
Eastern Ontario Model Forest
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry at-risk species expert
Member of the Amphibians and reptiles species specialist subcommittee
Natural Heritage Information Centre
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
300 Water St., 2nd Floor North Tower
Peterborough, ON K9J 3C7
Conclusion
