Goal 1. Enhance nest sites and protect nests from predators The Contractor will remove encroaching vegetation from nest sites during the non-nesting period (early May and late October). During the egg laying period (about late May – late June), the Contractor will spend about one day per week searching for wood turtle nests and protecting nests with individual nest cages. During peak nesting, additional days will be encouraged if time and funding permits. The Contractor may be asked to build simple nest cages with supplies provided by the DNR. The Contractor may be asked to move nests to permanent nest protection structures. Goal 2. Monitor roads for road mortality The Contractor will monitor roads for road mortality. From about late May – late June, the Contractor will spend about one day per week monitoring roads. The Contractor will walk 100m from the bridge/culvert on both sides of the road looking for live wood turtles, dead wood turtles, and wood turtle nests. Goal 3. Monitor study sites The Contractor may be asked to monitor nest sites occasionally from late May – October for sign of turtles, predators, humans, flooding, etc., and ensure nest protection structures are intact and functioning. In October, the Contractor may be asked to dig up nests to determine if nests were successful and collect deployed nest cages. In addition, the Contractor may be asked to assist DNR staff with population monitoring in late April – May. Monitoring entails walking transects on either side of the river for 500 meters, searching for wood turtles. Goal 4. Scout new areas for future management work The Contractor may be asked to visit river stretches targeted for future management work. The Contractor would identify river access points, document logistical challenges of conducting surveys and management in the river stretch, identify management needs, and take pictures. Ideally this would occur in May – June, but summer or fall scouting trips are also possible.
