New federal grant aids effort to save species from extirpation. 3:38 pm, Jun. 6, 2021 ×
A wood turtle carries a transmitter that allows researchers from UMD s Natural Resources Research Insitute to track its movements. (Steve Kuchera / 2016 / News Tribune)
The news for wood turtles in Minnesota is not good.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Wood Turtle Habitat Conservation Plan, finalized in 2020, declining population trends for the reptile are cause for concern and they are in danger of disappearing from the region entirely.
“Some populations are dominated by older adult turtles with little evidence of juvenile recruitment,’’ the plan notes. “Overall, populations are generally small, isolated and at risk for extirpation.”