I'm not a Chickenhawk; I'm a Chicken Turtle!

The Elusive Chicken Turtle has been found at First Landing State Park

A state endangered species, the chicken turtle (Deirochelys reticularia) is a semiaquatic species that is only known to occur at two locations in Virginia, one beingFirst Landing State Park. Since 2006, Department of Game and InlandFisheries’ Biologist, J.D. Kleopfer, have been searching for the chicken turtle as part of an ongoing research project.

The endangered chicken turtles has been found at First Landing State Park.

The rarely seen, endangered Chicken Turtle was thought lost to the park

On July 30th, 2012, Old Dominion University biology intern, Justin Westerfield, was checking the traps, and found a chicken turtle in one of park’s interdunal ponds. The common name is believed to have come from an 1800’s written account of how it was the most palatable of all the freshwater turtles, and that it “tasted like chicken”.

A small population of less than 10 chicken turtles was documented at the park in the early 1990’s. However, only one turtle had been found since then and it was believed that they may have been extirpated from the First Landing State Park. Because they spend just as much time on land as they do in the water and are highly mobile, this lifestyle makes them highly vulnerable to predation from foxes and raccoons, andinteractions with vehicles.

Research staff set the turtle traps into the interdunal ponds.

Research staff set the turtle nets in the interdunal ponds

Biologist have attached a transmitter to the turtlethe hopes of finding important behavioral and habitat information about this species. They hope that this turtle will lead them to other chicken turtles. In Virginia, chicken turtles are known to inhabit interdunal swales, feeding primarily on aquatic invertebrates such as crayfish and dragonflies. Information gathered during this investigation will contribute to larger conservation efforts to protect chicken turtles in Virginia.

“A rare find like this give us hope that the chicken turtle population has not been entirely lost from the park,” said Erik Molleen, Virginia State Parks’ District Resource Specialist.

Biologist release the turtle with the transmitter attached.

Biologists release the turtlewith the transmitter attached

The chicken turtle that was trapped had extensive damage to the upper-right portion of her shell, most likely caused by a motor vehicle. Biologists repaired the shell, secured the transmitter, took genetic samples, and released her back into the wild. Park visitors are encouraged to be mindful of wildlife in roadways, and to take care to avoid the wildlife when safely possible.

First Landing State Park has 20 cabins and over 200 campsites. The park is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

LOCATION: From I-64, take Northampton Blvd.-U.S. 13 North (Exit 282). Go through eight lights, and then turn right at the Shore Drive/U.S. 60 exit (last exit before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel). Take a right on Shore Drive and go four and a half miles to the park entrance. To reach the Chesapeake Bay Center, park office, camping or cabins, turn left off U.S. Rt. 60 at the stoplight and check in at the contact station. For the Trail Center, picnic area and trails, turn right instead.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, three and a half hours; Richmond, two hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, 20-30 minutes (this facility is in the area); Roanoke, five and a half hours.

For a Google map to the park, please click here.

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