The wood turtle is omnivorous. Their diet includes insects, mollusks, carrion, worms, blackberries, dandelions, strawberries, grasses, sedges, filamentous algae and mushrooms. The wood turtle is one of the most terrestrial turtles that lives in Ontario. They can be found in hardwood forests, open wet meadows, near streams and rivers with sand or gravel substrates. |
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Mating occurs in the spring just after the turtles emerge from hibernation or in the fall just prior to hibernation. Copulation takes place under water and can last for up to 12 hours. The female wood turtle will mate with more than one male, and can lay fertilized eggs from each of these males. Nesting begins in May, with the female turtle locating a suitable sandy/gravel area close to water to dig her nest. Once the nest is dug the female will deposit 4 to 12 white, elliptical eggs. The female wood turtle only lays one clutch of eggs per year. The young hatch in September to October and are usually not seen again until they are mature adults. |
