Wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) are among New Jersey’s most exciting wildlife to encounter. Not only are they rare, well camouflaged, and visually striking, but they also inhabit some of the state’s most scenic landscapes. As riparian (vegetation found along waterways) specialists, they thrive in streams and rivers with good water quality, expansive forest buffers, and disturbed areas suitable for nesting. These waterways often feature wide floodplains rich with diverse native forbs and shrubs.
Unfortunately, increasing pressures from development, habitat alteration, and stream degradation have significantly impacted wood turtle populations. Many are forced to nest in marginal or poor-quality sites or risk serious injury or death while navigating roads, agricultural fields, and power line rights-of-way. Expanding vegetated buffers between waterways, agricultural fields, and other disturbed areas enhances usable habitat and nesting opportunities for wood turtles. Avoiding disturbances in these buffers during the active season (March–November) reduces the risk of harming adults or disrupting nests. If your property borders potential wood turtle habitat, consider establishing a native plant buffer. This not only provides suitable foraging and nesting sites but also helps reduce erosion while attracting pollinators and songbirds to a dynamic ecotone.
By Levi Morris – Stewardship Specialist
