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Rea Cranwell, Thomas B. Conley School

Hunterdon County

Image of Bog turtle. Hunterdon County.Bog turtle. Hunterdon County. Rea Cranwell

Bessie The Bog Turtle

Hi! I'm Bessie the Bog Turtle. I am the smallest turtle in North America. As an adult, I will grow to be only 4 inches long! The scaly layers on my upper shell called scutes, are brown or black. They have yellow or reddish centers. I hope to grow up to be 50 years old. That's how long some of my lucky ancestors lived.

My favorite places to hang out are wet areas with lots of grass, muddy bogs, or meadows with plenty of vegetation. I also enjoy dry, open areas for lying out in the sun or nesting. If you want to find me in New Jersey, I like to vacation in many counties, such as Hunterdon, Sussex, Morris, Somerset, Burlington, Monmouth, Ocean County, and a few others.

My sister, Bertha, my two brothers, Bob and Brett, and me, Bessie, were laid as little eggs in a cozy nest in a warm, sunny, open area. We were just an inch long when we came out of our shells. We had to fend for ourselves in the big world. Predators such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and dogs think of us as a delicious bite-sized snack.

As we grow up, our appetite gets bigger and bigger. Some of our favorite foods are seeds, berries, little insects, crayfish, worms, snails, slugs, and small amphibians. For a big feast, we enjoy nesting rodents, or nesting birds.

I am here today to tell you all that we are in trouble! Bog Turtles are an endangered species. People are illegally collecting us for pets. They give us silly names like Princess or Turtley. Others reasons are habitat fragmentation and habitat loss. Humans build big houses and neighborhoods right through our homes and hang-outs. You can help us! You can gather up friends to manage Bog Turtle habitats. Keep the ground nice and soft. We are not pets, but animals in the wild. You can save the Bog Turtles from extinction!

Written by: Rea Cranwell

Thomas B. Conley School, Asbury

Teacher: Ms. Dawn Lanner