Conservation Target : Eastern Box Turtles ( Terrapene carolina ) Management Goal: To determine the presence/ density of the culturally significant species, the Eastern Box Turtle Biological Conditions Contributed Service Conservation Strategies Non-Native Invasive species, Stable
habitat, Poaching/Pet trade, Variable population/slow reproduction.
Biodiversity, Cultural
Inventory
History and Adaptive Process: The Eastern Box Turtle is one of four subspecies of box turtles east of the Mississippi. Daksi ( ᏓᎦᏏ ) permeates the Cherokee culture through art, stories and ceremony. As a culturally significant, and admittedly charismatic species, our office has been haphazardly monitoring box turtles on EBCI lands since 2016. Our office has been collecting biological data from each individual and marking them with a unique identifier. Mark-recapture techniques have yet to yield a recapture since 2016. However, in 2021, we increased our efforts by accepting turtles from EBCI citizens more readily and created a standard procedure for our box turtle project.
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS
Current Methodology for Conservation Strategies Inventory: Capture, mark, and release box turtles as they are found or brought to our office by EBCI citizens. Results and Discussion for Information Transfer and Processing Ecological: Since 2016, we have documented, marked, and released 27 box turtles, with no recaptures. One injured turtle was successfully rehabilitated and released on EBCI lands. Social & Cultural: Work alongside members of the community to investigate reports of box turtles.
Adaptive Decision for 2023
Management or Methodological Changes: Expand inventory process to achieve recaptures. Explore the benefits of partnering with the North Carolina box turtle project. Social & Cultural Changes: Increase public involvement through social media and other methods. Develop methods for better intake from public and public reporting. Partners: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC)
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