Our highways are cut through natural forest and wild lands creating an inevitable clash of habitat for most of the creatures that live in the woods. Deer are constantly risking their lives to simply cross Highway 61 and for a few days each June the turtles take this same chance in order to fulfill their yearly duty of reproduction.
Saganaga Lake’s public boat landing on County Road 81 is a good example of a roadway that divides a swamp from a lake, which painted turtles cross to lay their eggs. They often choose to lay them in the soft sand along the shoulder of the road, which might not be the smartest place since there is a fair amount of traffic pulling boats on trailers, but I can see the attraction as can anyone who has operated a shovel in that area.
The painted turtle is a versatile creature surviving a range from southern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and can hibernate in the lake bottom mud for the winter in colder climates. We usually see them sun bathing on logs that are partly submerged along the shorelines of our lakes, and they survive on insects, frogs, and even smaller fish.
A painted turtle can live to be 55 years of age, but are often taken by predators or run over by anxious anglers.
Snapping turtles also live in our neck of the woods and will follow the same yearly migration route to lay their eggs, as anyone living near Trail Center can attest. There has been an adult female snapping turtle that crosses the road to get back and forth from Pee Wee Lake to Poplar and has sometimes decided to take a break along the centerline. Lucky for this turtle the neighbors have assisted her across the road to keep her from getting smashed by a vehicle. If you see any turtles crossing the road, “give ’em a brake.”
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218- 388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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