The Conclusion of the 2023 Southern Pacific Pond Turtle Field Season

As the summer season comes to a close, the Turtle Conservancy wraps up its second year of researching and monitoring two populations of Southern Pacific Pond Turtles (Actinemys pallida) in Ventura County. This effort is driven by the shared concerns of biologists across California, who recognize the precarious state of this species.

Two Distinct Sites, One Common Goal

Our work focuses on two distinct sites within the same native river drainage. One is located in a human-altered wetland in the Santa Clara River floodplain near Fillmore, CA, while the other resides in the upper reaches of a montane stream in Los Padres National Forest.

Adapting to Changing Conditions

In May, our team set out to determine if the turtles we encountered last year were still present in our research sites after the unprecedented rainfall and subsequent floods of the previous winter. We spent the spring scouting turtle habitat that had been transformed by the floods, and waited for the water levels to subside.

When the seasonal “June Gloom” (which occurred this year in May) finally gave way to sunny, turtle-friendly weather, we headed to the field in Fillmore. The sprawling wetlands were wider, deeper, and flowing faster than the previous year, presenting a challenge to our survey methods. We had to double our efforts to sample additional water bodies that did not exist last year, but we were eager to learn how the turtles might be moving throughout the site. The results were somewhat perplexing this time around, and we will need to continue our work year after year to fully understand this turtle population that is holding on in an oasis surrounded by residential and agricultural development and plagued with an alarming density of invasive species.

We are grateful for the collaboration that drives the research in Fillmore and must acknowledge the excellent work of our partners at the Santa Clara River Conservancy, UCSB, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who are working to reverse the damage that humans have caused to this area for decades.

A Unique Opportunity in Los Padres National Forest

At our other study site in Los Padres National Forest, the water level and flow of the stream were too high to safely survey in the spring, so we patiently waited for conditions to improve. Finally, in July, we packed our gear and hiked into the site for a month-long survey effort with a dedicated team of summer interns and field technicians. Winter rain had washed out the road (or piled boulders on top of it), limiting public access. This limited human disturbance provided a unique opportunity for the team to observe the turtles and other wildlife of the Sespe Wilderness.