We are learning about the Inuit culture in social studies.
Food for Thought: Why the Early Years Are SO Important
The Markham Turtles Are Growing Up!
Well, we only ended up with 2 live turtles out of our 9 eggs. This experience has taught us a lot about the miracle of life. Further research told us that if a turtle is able to have a baby that makes it to maturity that is a big accomplishment. Many of their eggs don't hatch, are eaten by predators or are destroyed by natural phenomenon. Our two turtles are little miracles. They have started to eat lettuce and we are introducing them to turtle pellets from the pet store.
Well, we only ended up with 2 live turtles out of our 9 eggs. This experience has taught us a lot about the miracle of life. Further research told us that if a turtle is able to have a baby that makes it to maturity that is a big accomplishment. Many of their eggs don't hatch, are eaten by predators or are destroyed by natural phenomenon. Our two turtles are little miracles. They have started to eat lettuce and we are introducing them to turtle pellets from the pet store.
The Markham Turtles
On the first day of the 2017-2018 I came home to find a terrific surprise. One of the 9 painted turtles my family had been incubating since June had hatched and the cutest little turtle I have ever seen was lying inside a torn up egg shell. He was barely moving, just hanging out. My husband and I quickly excavated the soil around the other eggs to find another little one freshly born. Unfortunately 3 of the eggs didn't mature fully. I think this is common and perhaps why turtles have so many eggs at a time. Many do not make it to adulthood.So presently that leaves us with 4 unhatched turtle eggs. They all are moving ever so slightly when you gently prod them. I will try and post another video in the next few days. Hopefully more turtles emerge.
These eggs came from a hunting camp in Restoule, Ontario. My husband was on a fishing trip with his friends when he noticed broken egg shells all around the camp. Many turtles had been laying their eggs there and unfortunately a lot of predators had been feasting on them. Bears, coyotes, raccoons, snakes and many others. The day before he arrived one of his friends who was already there noticed a painted turtle laying her eggs by their firepit. This was not a good choice of location as various families used the pit throughout the summer. My husband carefully collected the eggs in a Tupperware container packed with the surrounding soil. He did not change the position of the eggs because the turtles will start to adhere to the side of the egg they are laying on and would die if the egg was turned. He brought them home and we created an incubator using an old cooler with a hole drilled out of the top to insert a heater. We added water for the heater to warm and keep the soil moist as it evaporated. We placed a thermometer inside to maintain a temperature of 85 degrees. The Tupperware container was placed above the water in a shelf in the cooler and we kept the lid on.
Needless to say we are very excited and can't wait to release these little guys back into the wild where they belong!
These eggs came from a hunting camp in Restoule, Ontario. My husband was on a fishing trip with his friends when he noticed broken egg shells all around the camp. Many turtles had been laying their eggs there and unfortunately a lot of predators had been feasting on them. Bears, coyotes, raccoons, snakes and many others. The day before he arrived one of his friends who was already there noticed a painted turtle laying her eggs by their firepit. This was not a good choice of location as various families used the pit throughout the summer. My husband carefully collected the eggs in a Tupperware container packed with the surrounding soil. He did not change the position of the eggs because the turtles will start to adhere to the side of the egg they are laying on and would die if the egg was turned. He brought them home and we created an incubator using an old cooler with a hole drilled out of the top to insert a heater. We added water for the heater to warm and keep the soil moist as it evaporated. We placed a thermometer inside to maintain a temperature of 85 degrees. The Tupperware container was placed above the water in a shelf in the cooler and we kept the lid on.
Needless to say we are very excited and can't wait to release these little guys back into the wild where they belong!