Maybe I was a strange child, but I had a pet cemetery under a tree in the backyard of my childhood home. It wasn't for our family pets but for all the dead animals I discovered in the hours I spent outside. Not only would I bring these lifeless squirrels, mice, and birds home for burial, but I would also host ceremonies for them. I was a sensitive kid and remember feeling strongly that every animal mattered...and should be cared for at death.
I no longer cry at road kill, but I am still concerned about animals that don't seem well. That's why I couldn't stop thinking about a snapping turtle we saw under the ice, seemingly frozen, and had to find out if it was ok. Here's the story...
While we were lacing up our skates at Capisic Pond recently, another family of skaters mentioned a snapping turtle frozen under the ice in the path through the reeds. This frozen turtle had been spotted several days before, creating quite the buzz. By the time we arrived at the reeds, many others were already searching. A recent dusting of snow added a challenge to the hunt, so we decided to enjoy skating and let someone else find the turtle. Eventually, they did. A sweet family with two determined toddlers searched the ice patiently until tracking down this hidden treasure in the wild.
As we stood over the large turtle frozen under the surface of the ice, I felt equal parts awe and concern. I'd thought turtles hibernated by burying themselves in mud. Was this turtle in a dormant state, or did it freeze to death? Was this normal turtle behavior?
Most of the other skaters were asking the same questions, and no one seemed to have an answer. So I did a little research and here is what I found:
Snapping turtles can survive under ice by entering a state called brumation. Different from hibernation, which is the deep sleep that warm-blooded mammals fall into, brumation is a state of dormancy for cold-blooded reptiles and amphibians. During brumation, the turtle's metabolism slows down dramatically to survive the cold temperatures, but they still have periods of activity when the weather is mild.
During brumation, reptiles stop eating like hibernating animals, but they will continue drinking water.
Perhaps my favorite tip about turtle brumation came from this article on PBS.org: The Secret to turtle hibernation: butt-breathing, which explains how turtles survive under a layer of ice without coming up for air.
"When turtles hibernate, they rely on stored energy and uptake oxygen from the pond water by moving it across body surfaces that are flush with blood vessels. In this way, they can get enough oxygen to support their minimal needs without using their lungs. Turtles have one area that is especially well vascularized — their butts."
If you see a turtle under the ice, it's best to leave it alone. The ice layer acts as a protective barrier against the cold weather above it. Breaking the ice can disrupt the turtle's natural brumation process and will harm them.
If this topic interests you, here is an article from the National Park Service about the different types of winter dormancy for rodents, frogs, bears, snakes, and bats: Hibernation: Nature's Nap Time.
Well, there you have it. A turtle frozen under the ice is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about; it is just something to enjoy if you happen upon one. My inner child was happy with this new information and hopefully yours will be too.
If you're looking for a list of skating ponds in Portland, here it is!
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