--- Striped Mud Turtle ---

Striped Mud Turtles, Kinosternon baurii, are small turtles who grow to only 4" -5" long. They usually have 3 visible stripes on their shells and 2 yellow stripes on each side of their faces. These native semi-aquatic turtles live in and near brackish and freshwater in ditches and ponds. Dinner consists of algae, snails, insects, worms, seeds, and carrion.

Females may travel up to 820 feet away from the wetlands to lay a clutch of 1-6 eggs. Temperature determines the sex of the embryo. The embryo may pause its development until the correct temperature is reached. Incubation lasts from 2 1/2 to five months. The hatchlings are about 1' long and may take more than a year to leave the nest.

Striped Mud Turtles depend on waters with low saline content. This makes them especially vulnerable in the Lower Keys where sea level rise is expected to cause saltwater intrusion into freshwater habitats. More intense storms will cause many of the low-lying areas to be inundated with saltwater thus making the ecosystem uninhabitable for Striped Mud Turtles. Human-caused pollution and oil spills also threaten these little turtles.

Striped Mud Turtles spend much of their time underwater and can often be seen in the shallow waters. When in wetlands keep an eye out for movement in mud, marshes and wet fields and you may meet a new wild turtle friend.

Photo Credit: Andy Waldo.

#Connect #Respect #Coexist #StripedMudTurtle
#Turtle #ImagineOurFLorida #IOF

What a wonderful way to honor veterans. What do you think?

https://www.facebook.com/floridaseagrant/photos/a.204240672946329/2449340538436320/?type=3&theater

-----Beautyberry jam-----

Beauty berries are a lovely addition to your native garden. They can also make a tasty fall treat. Here is an easy recipe that you can use to make to turn your beauty berries into a sweet treat.

Start by washing about 1 quart of berries with water. Then place them in a saucepan, cover in water, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low or medium for 20 minutes. Strain the berries. Add about equal amounts of sugar to the juice. If you prefer less sugar you can reduce the amount used. Stevia can also be used to reduce the glycemic index. Add a squeeze or two of lemon juice and 1 packet of pectin. Stir and add to sterilized glass jars. Close and let sit for 24 hours. Refrigerate for up to one month. This jam makes a great gift or addition to your breakfast. 🙂

#ImagineOurFlorida #IOF #Beautyberry #Jam

----Justice for Wildlife----

Let's hope justice prevails in this case. So much money and hard work go into protecting and helping endangered species to thrive. Harsh punishments are crucial in ensuring the success of those programs.

https://whnt.com/2019/11/05/florida-man-could-get-prison-time-fined-for-killing-an-endangered-sawfish/

#ImagineOurFlorida #IOF #sawfish #endangeredspecies