Wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 1

Assessment Summary – November 2007

Common name: Wood Turtle

Scientific name: Glyptemys Insculpta

Status: Threatened

Reason for designation: This species is declining across much of its range, and occurs in small, increasingly disjunct populations. It is more terrestrial than other freshwater turtles, which makes it extremely vulnerable to collection for the pet trade. It has a long-lived life history typical of turtles, so that almost any chronic increase in adult and juvenile mortality leads to a decrease in abundance. Such increased mortality is occurring from increased exposure to road traffic, agricultural machinery and off-road vehicles, collection for pets, and perhaps exotic food/medicines. Increased level of threat is associated with new or increased access to the species' range by people.

Occurrence: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia

Status history: Designated Special Concern in April 1996. Status re-examined and designated Threatened in November 2007. Last assessment based on an update status report.