Within the Sandhills wetlands lives a colorful steward with an Oscar-winning smile. Although this docile, ancient treasure makes no more than a hissing sound when threatened, they speak loudly about the health of Sandhills ecosystems. They are Blanding’s turtles.
Blanding’s are unlike any turtle in terms of beauty and behavior. I recognize them by the bright yellow coloration on their chin and neck. This profile is reminiscent of a brachiosaurus: long, with a clublike head. The curvature of their mouth mimics a smile, earning them the nickname “smileys” by some locals. Like other turtles, Blanding’s bask upon muskrat structures but in a more regal fashion. They periscope along wetland edges with caution and move through submerged with the secrecy of 007. Their large hazel eyes are humanlike and, I believe, hold an ancient wisdom of the Sandhills.
I have had the chance to meet several Blanding’s turtles and follow the lives of over a dozen adults in my work as a graduate student at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. With colleagues, this research extended the distributional range northeast. The range of Blanding’s turtles is limited to parts of Ontario and Nova Scotia, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maine, the Great Lakes region, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. Blanding’s turtles are listed as a species of conservation concern throughout their range. Nebraska is the only state that lists the species as secure.
The largest population of Blanding’s was found at Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in the early 2000s. My research adds to what we know about Blanding’s and informs management practices. Threats to turtle survival are many, but alteration and destruction of habitats are primary contributors to declines elsewhere. The Sandhills remain relatively unaltered and sparsely populated and apart from roads, provide suitable habitats that are still connected. The life cycle of a Blanding’s turtle, from soft-shelled egg to football-sized adult, is interconnected to the mosaic of Sandhills wetlands and upland sand dune habitats. This makes the Sandhills the last stronghold for Blanding’s. As an indicator species, this means that the Sandhills are likely doing well too. May we protect our smileys.