• Saturday-What'sUP July 31 - 11:01 am

Why did the turtle cross the road? To get to the other side and lay her eggs of course! Today we get a front row seat to the action, thanks to Terry Johnson. Traveling the backroads here UP North, I've come across my fair share of turtles busily digging a hole in the sand, preparing to lay a batch of eggs. Yet I can't say I've ever witnessed the actual laying of the eggs like we are here today. All four shots are pretty self explanatory, but with the second photo, Terry made the observation "that the turtle lays one egg, then moves over a little to lay another, then back to the original position for the next drop.". In the third shot, Terry moved in close so you can see Momma turtle's foot adjusting the egg to a better location. The wonders of nature in and around the Keweenaw never cease to amaze me!

Wow! What great shots! Hope the eggs all make it to maturity.

Absolutely incredible photos!
I have only seen this on tv but have always wanted to see it for real.

Good Morning all,
Thats a great picture of mama turtle. A couple of years ago, the grandkids and I found one on the side of the road.I didn't realize she was laying eggs. She was so old that she was covered in moss. You would think they would find a safer place to have their little ones. Great Picture!!!

Congratulations Mrs Turtle!!!

There isn't a lot of give in that shell, it must feel quite crowded in there with a dozen or more eggs when ready to lay. Maybe turtles have figured out that skunks and racoons are in a dangerous place by the roads looking for their nests so the eggs are safer, I think they just look for sunny spots to warm the ground with soil they can dig in and pack down. Tree shaded soil isn't warm enough. I think it has to remain somewhat moist so as not to dry them out, too. How long is the interval between the first and last pictures?

awesome!

great photos! I will share them with my students.

There were actually 3 turtles digging nests and laying eggs at the same time. The first shot and the last shot are of one turtle and the 2 middle shots are of another turtle. Notice there is a blood sucker stuck on the shell of the one laying eggs. The eggs seem to be quite soft shelled at the time of laying. The eggs dropped about every couple of minutes or so.

Thanks for the nice comments..........

Several years ago we had one dig a hole in this red clay. Poor thing it took her forever to get it dug!!! We videod it. I was gone when she layed the eggs and when I got home you would never had known she had even disturbed the soil. She had even spread the pea gravel back over it.We don't think the eggs ever hatched tho. What was funny is that she came right down by the head of one of those green plastic turtle sandboxes to lay them.

This happened in our yard about a month ago. We have it marked on the calendar so we know when to check to see if her eggs hatched or not.