How IRC is Helping Southwestern Pond Turtles Thrive While Basking in Safety

Come one, come fall, come basking for all! Did you know that soaking up the sun in autumn is especially important for reptiles as they prepare for brumation, a hibernation-like state that helps turtles, snakes, lizards and more survive the winter? To support one threatened population in their basking needs, Irvine Ranch Conservancy (IRC) came up with a creative solution by installing floating basking platforms.

The southwestern pond turtle (Actinemys pallida), native to Orange County, is a species of concern with only a few populations found on IRC-managed land. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing both the northwestern and southwestern pond turtles as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, citing habitat loss and competition from invasive species. The species is already recognized as a California Species of Special Concern, and conservation efforts are underway statewide. It is the only freshwater turtle species native to central and southern California, and one group resides in a small pond in Shady Canyon within the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. Previously a cattle pond, the area was restored as a mitigation project to translocate 27 turtles from development nearby. A recent survey revealed the population is at capacity with a little over 50 turtles, due to limited water sources and habitat pressures. With so few places for them to thrive, IRC looked for ways to improve their quality of life at this pond. 

While these platforms won’t increase the overall population, as resources in the pond remain limited, they do enhance the turtles’ quality of life. Basking is vital for turtles, especially in fall, but due to this pond’s small size, turtles were basking on the edges of the pond. This can prove dangerous for the turtles, as it leaves them vulnerable to predators like coyotes, skunks and toads. To provide a safer option, IRC designed floating basking platforms where turtles could sun themselves safely in the middle of the pond.

Rather than building the platforms alone, IRC wanted to use this project to involve the community, particularly young students from Santa Ana. Through IRC’s ongoing partnership with the Delhi Center, the Community Engagement and Education team engaged Delhi students to help with this project proposed by the Monitoring and Research team. Alongside the IRC teams, the students helped assemble platform pieces specifically designed by IRC staff, creating two sturdy floating structures that can each hold about 20 turtles. By involving students from The Delhi Center, IRC not only teaches them new skills but also sparks their interest in environmental stewardship. The opportunity to actively help local wildlife makes the experience especially meaningful and is often the biggest draw for the kids.

Once assembled, the Monitoring and Research team installed the platforms in the pond with the help of Land Stewardship Interns from Golden West College. Wildlife cameras were also installed to monitor the success of the platforms and the turtle population. At first, turtles avoided the platforms, and the team realized the 45-degree angle was too steep. After adding grip tape to prevent slipping, the team saw an increase in usage, from about one turtle per week to two or three per day.