I recently returned to Washington, DC from my annual trip out to the Chihuahuan Desert of west Texas where I have been collaborating on multiple research projects involving the Yellow Mud Turtle (Kinosternon flavescens). Working with these turtles continuously leaves us asking more questions about their ecology than we are able to answer. We trapped a total of 201 unique Yellow Mud Turtles at five permanent earthen tanks and a few more ephemeral sites that hold water for only a few days after rains. The newest earthen tank, #2, produced no turtles (compared to only a single turtle trapped last year), but numerous turtles were found in all other permanent sites. By the end of our trapping efforts, we were recapturing a high percentage (75–80%) of turtles trapped the preceding days. However, a large rain event (1.3″) at 96 Tank likely resulted in a low recapture percentage (25%), likely due to numerous turtles not seen in over a decade (despite annual trapping efforts at this site) moving to the site from terrestrial burrows.

96 Tank after heavy rains (notice the high turbidity)

Kimball Draw

Adult female Yellow Mud Turtle (Kinosternon flavescens) with an advanced stage of shell disease