6/19/2014 May 2014 Wild Side E-Newsletter

https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117441287699&format=html&print=true 1/8

The Wild Side! MAY 2014

Cover Photo

A female Ruby-throatedHummingbird visits afeeder. Photo by JenaDonnell. Want to be a part of theWildlife Diversity Team?Participate in theHummingbird Survey!

Greetings Wildlife Enthusiasts! From the mountainous overlooks of the southeast to the windsweptplains of the Panhandle, Oklahoma has plenty to offer nature explorers.Regardless of your comfort level, novice birdwatcher or experiencedoutdoorsman, an assortment of opportunities awaits. Colorful reptilesare basking on nearby rocks, captivating birds are waiting to beappreciated, and scenic hiking trails crisscross the state. The questionsoon shifts from "what to do" to "where to begin."

6/19/2014 May 2014 Wild Side E-Newsletter

https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117441287699&format=html&print=true 2/8

Watch for Great Plains Trail ofOklahoma signs on your nextjourney to western Oklahoma.Photo by Jena Donnell.

Upcoming Events Selman Bat WatchRegistrationMay 27 - June 6, 2014 Be sure to register for the19th annual Selman BatWatch. Selected visitorswill have the rare chance towatch hundreds ofthousands of Mexican Free-tailed Bats fly overhead!Click here for moreinformation.

Struttin' Hens Womenin the Outdoors EventJune 7, 20147 - 5:30 Ever wanted to pull back abow and let your arrow fly?How about learn to cookwith cast iron or cast a flyrod? Maybe make a naturaljewelry creation or weave abasket? This is the eventfor you! Seventeenoutdoor and nature relatedclasses!Check out their FacebookEvent or view the class list!

Ouachita MountainsResource Conservation& DevelopmentRegional WildlifeConferenceJune 23 - 24, 2014 Visit the RC&D website formore information.

The magnificent Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is a destination on the GreatPlains Trail of Oklahoma Hackberry Flat Loop. Hiking trails will lead to breathtakingviews and plenty of wildlife watching opportunities. Photo by Steve Webber.

The Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma is a great starting point for your summeradventures! In 2006, the OklahomaDepartment of Wildlife Conservation andpartnering groups established 13highway-based driving loops across 33western counties. Each loop takesadvantage of unique natural places andshowcases the unexpected landscapes ofwestern Oklahoma. Over 100 destinationsare included in the Great Plains Trail, fromstate parks, to local attractions, toprivately owned bed and breakfasts.Loops can be tailored to your interestswith suggested one-day outings, "Off theBeaten Trails" and birding routes offeredatwww.greatplainstrail.com. To help you better plan your Great PlainsTrail of Oklahoma excursions, we will be highlighting one loop per weekfor the 13 weeks of summer on Facebook. Profiles will begin May 27. Besure to like our page and learn about the wildlife species that call the

6/19/2014 May 2014 Wild Side E-Newsletter

https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117441287699&format=html&print=true 3/8

This female Three-toed Box Turtle recently visited aNorman backyard. The homeowner provided freshly cutstrawberries and was rewarded with a second visitorwithin hours. Photo by Mark Howery.

Great Plains home! Jena DonnellWildlife Diversity Information SpecialistOklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

Oklahoma's Box Turtles You may have been driving down a road this springand noticed a small, seemingly helpless turtle tryingto get to the other side. There's a good chance thatsmall turtle was a box turtle. Oklahoma has twonative species of box turtles that share very similartraits. The Three-toed Box Turtle is solid brown totan in overall color with some faint yellow stripesand dots on the top half of the shell, also known asthe carapace. The Ornate Box Turtle is distinctlypatterned on both the carapace and the bottom halfof the shell, also known as the plastron. Thepatterning on the plastron is the best characteristicto distinguish between the two species.

The Ornate Box Turtle can be found statewideprimarily in short and mixed-grass prairie habitat,whereas the Three-toed Box Turtle ranges fromcentral to eastern Oklahoma and is found mostly inwooded areas or thickets. The diets of both speciesconsist mainly of insects, worms and fruits such as berries. The young are almost strictlycarnivorous.

Box turtles are often encountered in urban areaseither in backyards or crossing the road. Attractingbox turtles into your property by creating habitatcan give them a safe place to call home and couldkeep them off the streets and out of harm's way. Afew simple steps can give box turtles a place tohide from predators, safe foraging grounds and a

6/19/2014 May 2014 Wild Side E-Newsletter

https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117441287699&format=html&print=true 4/8

Bright yellow lines on the back, or carapace, helpdistinguish an Ornate Box Turtle from a Three-toed BoxTurtle. Photo by Mark Howery.

potential nesting site in early summer. Rakingfallen limbs and leaves together can create athicket that box turtles love to occupy. Since boxturtles are primarily insect and fruit eaters,incorporating insect-attracting and fruit-bearingplants in your landscape can have a positive effecton their diet and keep them in your yard, as well.

If box turtle habitat becomes inadequate or isexperiencing a lot of landscape disturbance, theycan be forced to move. This will usually result inthe turtles crossing roads to seek better habitat.This movement can lead to many box turtles beingkilled by passing vehicles. There are some thingsyou can do to try to save a box turtle crossing theroad. The first thing to remember is safety! If

there is heavy traffic or the road doesn't have a shoulder, then do not attempt to move a turtle offthe road. If the area is safe with a wide shoulder or pull-off section and traffic is light, then considerthese tips to help traveling box turtles:

Pull off the road on the side that the turtle is heading. This will keep you from crossing theroad into the opposite lane.Grab the turtle by the middle part of the shell where the carapace meets the plastron with afirm grip to avoid dropping it on the pavement.Take the turtle to the side of the road in the direction the turtle is heading. Place the turtle asfar off the road as possible but never cross a fence or trespass on private property.

Story by Curtis Tackett, Aquatic Nuisance Species Biologist

Improve Your Wildlife Watching Area...Add a Brush Pile! Wildlife watching is an immensely popularactivity in Oklahoma. According to the mostrecent National Survey of Fishing, Huntingand Wildlife-Associated Recreation, over 1.2million Oklahoma residents participated in"around the home wildlife watching." This byfar surpassed any other surveyed activity. Ifyou have taken a special interest in wildlifearound your home, you could be consideredas one of these wildlife enthusiasts! Maybeyou've installed bird feeders or included

6/19/2014 May 2014 Wild Side E-Newsletter

https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117441287699&format=html&print=true 5/8

Biologists recently installed a brush pile similar to this at theHackberry Flat Center near Frederick. Several species of birdsregularly visit brush piles including White-crowned Sparrows andNorthern Cardinals. Photo by Melynda Hickman.

wildlife friendly plants in your landscapingefforts. Maybe you're ready to attract evenmore wildlife to your property? If so, consideradding some type of structure to yourbackyard to provide shelter for your wildlifevisitors. One easy way is to create a smallbrush pile.

Before brush pile construction begins, youmust first determine the best location. Ifyou're interested in bringing more birds toyour feeder, think about adding the structurewithin 10-20 feet of the feeder so birds havea nearby escape from predators. If you'rehappy with your current landscape design, abrush pile can be easily hidden along theedge of your property but still provide wildlifewith valuable shelter. Another option is to plant vining Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) atthe base of the brush pile for aesthetic appeal.

After deciding on the brush pile location, loosen the surrounding soil with a garden rake or hoe. Thiswill encourage use by box turtles or other reptiles. Then begin gathering brush material of varyingsizes. The largest diameter logs or stumps should be placed in a cross hatch or wheel spoke patternand serve as the brush pile base. This will help the pile from compacting at the ground level in lateryears. For more substantial brush piles, consider adding a second row of the larger diameter brush.Finally, stack increasingly smaller branches until the pile has reached the desired height.

Brush piles are a great addition to your wildlife watching area in all seasons, attracting differentspecies at different times of the year.

Before installing a brush pile in your backyard, be sure to check city codes.

Share your new brush pile or wildscape photos on my Facebook page: Jena Donnell, WildlifeDiversity Specialist!

Alligator Snapping Turtle Photo Goes Viral Dave Harrell's recent catfishing trip was an exciting one; onethat has been told to over thirty thousand people! He andfriend Audey Clark inadvertently caught and then released anAlligator Snapping Turtle in Eufaula Lake's Mill Creek area.Shortly after sharing the photo with the ODWC Facebook team

6/19/2014 May 2014 Wild Side E-Newsletter

https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117441287699&format=html&print=true 6/8

Dave Harrell of Edmond and Audey Clark ofNorman (pictured) were surprised to catchthis Alligator Snapping Turtle while catfishingin the Mill Creek area of Eufaula Lake. Photoprovided by Dave Harrell.

May 13, over 1,400 people liked the snapshot, and many haveshared their own turtle encounter photos and stories.

About the Species: The Alligator Snapping Turtle isOklahoma's largest turtle and can reach impressive weights ofover 250 pounds. It can be easily identified by the hooked beakand three dominant ridges on the back, or carapace. Unlikemany species of turtles, it is rarely seen basking on the bank;only females regularly leave the water and only then to layeggs. Restricted to eastern Oklahoma, this species isassociated with the Arkansas and Red River watersheds.

Unfortunately, Oklahoma's Alligator Snapping Turtle populationswiftly declined from 1949 - 1999. Loss of habitat due to riverchannelization has been suspected as the leading cause of thisdecline. It is listed as a Species of Special Concern and has ayear-round closed season prohibiting trapping, possession orkilling of this species.

Fun Fact: The Alligator Snapping Turtle can "fish" for its prey.This turtle often waits for prey to enter its large open mouth toinvestigate the pink worm-like feature near the tip of the turtle's tongue. When the fish is in position,the mouth snaps shut, and the food is secured.

Check out our website for more information about turtles in Oklahoma, or purchase A Field Guide toOklahoma's Amphibians and Reptiles.

New Certified Wildscape! #465- Ms. Julia Harris, Tulsa Congratulations go to Ms. Harris for gaining the WildlifeHabitat Certification! She has used creative landscaping onmore than 50 percent of her property, attracting a varietyof wildlife. She has especially enjoyed watching AmericanGoldfinches using the coneflowers in the aptly named"Goldfinch Grove." Her violin student Abigail Mills also likesfinding a multitude of insects after her lesson. Abigail andher mother, Ruth, have been a great help in maintainingthis wonderful Wildscape! Check out the Department's Landscaping for Wildlife web

6/19/2014 May 2014 Wild Side E-Newsletter

https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117441287699&format=html&print=true 7/8

This certified wildscape provides a diversehabitat for a number of wildlife species. Photoprovided by Julia Harris.

page for more information on how to create habitat in yourown yard!

In Other News... Check Out These Wildlife Diversity News Stories

Oklahoma Removed From List of Suspected Bat Fungus Areas

Selman Bat Watch Registration Forms Available May 27, 2014

The Wild Side e-newsletter is a project of the Oklahoma Department ofWildlife Conservation's Wildlife Diversity Program. The Wildlife DiversityProgram monitors, manages and promotes rare, declining, andendangered wildlife, as well as common wildlife not fished or hunted. It isprimarily funded by the sales of Wildlife Department license plates,publication sales and private donors. Visit wildlifedepartment.com formore wildlife diversity information and events. For questions or

6/19/2014 May 2014 Wild Side E-Newsletter

https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?agent.uid=1117441287699&format=html&print=true 8/8

comments, please email jena.donnell@odwc.ok.gov.

This program operates free from discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinion or affiliation, race, creed,color, gender, age, ancestry, marital status or disability. A person who feels he or she may have been discriminatedagainst or would like further information should write: Director, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, P.O.Box 53465, Oklahoma City, OK 73152, or Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, D.C.20240.

Forward this email

This email was sent to michael.bergin@odwc.ok.gov by jena.donnell@odwc.ok.gov | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy.

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation | PO BOX 53465 | Oklahoma City | OK | 73152