Distribution: The main range of the bog turtle extends from western Massachusetts, Connecticut, and eastern New York southward through eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey to northern Delaware and northern Maryland. Isolated populations exist in northwestern New York, northwestern Pennsylvania, southern Virginia, western North Carolina, northwestern South Carolina, northern Georgia, and eastern Tennessee.

Habitat: The bog turtle lives in spring-fed sphagnum bogs, tamarack, black spruce swamps and marshy meadows (southern range) (Herman and Pharr 1986). Clear, slow moving rivulets or brooks with soft, highly organic substrates are required habitat features (Pitts 1978). Additional habitat requirements include substrates of soft mud and rock, vegetation dominated by low grasses and sedges, and a heterogeneous habitat with wet and dry areas (northern range) (Chase et al. 1989).

Behavior: The bog turtle is primarily diurnal, although nocturnal feeding, breeding, and nesting have been reported (Holub and Bloomer 1977). Emergence from cover occurs in early morning to begin basking activities, which continue until the turtle moves off in search of mates or food. Bog turtles are generally active at air temperatures between 16 and 31 ^oC (Herman 1981). Estivation may occur as temperatures rise during the summer. Hibernation begins from late September to November and ends in March or April. Tracking studies indicate homing behavior.

Reproduction: The nesting season lasts from May to July (Ernst and Barbour 1972). Nesting activity occurs in late afternoon or early evening hours. Nesting occurs away from wetter areas in elevated sedge tussocks or sphagnum moss above the waterline. Nests are generally exposed to sunlight most of the day. Other nesting sites include the soft soil above springs, adjacent pastures, or the sides of railroad embankments. Nests are generally dug with hind limbs; however, some nests are made by turtles tunneling through the tussock, depositing their eggs behind them as they crawl. Clutches consist of one to six eggs. Incubation varies as a function of temperature, lasting from 42 to 80 days (Tyron and Hulsey 1977). Hatchlings emerge in late August and September. Overwintering may occur in nests by hatchlings.

Food habits: The bog turtle feeds primarily on insects and berries either while on land or in the water. Other food items include beetles, seed of pondweed, snails, caddisfly larvae, millipedes, Japanese beetles, frogs (e.g., bullfrogs, pickerel), crickets, slugs, nestling birds, crayfish, dead water snakes, butterflies, salamanders, earthworms, mice, skunk, cattails and duckweed (Zappalorti 1976; Holub and Bloomer 1977)

Populations: Studies indicate population densities range from 49-62 turtles per hectare (New Jersey), 7-213 turtles per hectare (Maryland), and 125 to140 turtles per hectar (Pennsylvania) (Chase et al. 1989). Sex ratios (female to male) have varied from 1:1 (Maryland) to 2.5:1 (New Jersey). Humans posed the major threat to survival. Destruction of wetland habitat and collection for the pet trade have caused extinction of some populations (Collins 1990) and severely reduced others.