Pacific pond turtle (Clemmys marmorata) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 11

Summary of Status Report

The range of the Pacific pond turtle once stretched along the entire west coast of North America from Baja California to southern British Columbia. Populations were historically reduced by unrelenting commercial harvesting, and distribution has since dramatically declined due to extensive habitat loss. Agricultural and urban expansion, coupled with damming, continue to modify, fragment, and destroy habitat. Vehicle-related mortality and disease are decreasing adult survivorship, while predation on juveniles by raccoons and introduced bullfrogs is almost completely preventing recruitment. At the northern end of its range, this species is even more vulnerable to harvesting and predation because its delayed maturity and lower nesting success make it very slow to recover from severe population declines.

The Pacific pond turtle is at risk throughout its range and has not been recorded in British Columbia since 1959. Considering that the climate in southern British Columbia and Vancouver Island provided suitable habitat for this species, that mid-nineteenth century records describe Clemmys marmorata as being found in that area, that the species was once common in Washington right up to the Canadian border, and that the species has undergone a rapid and widespread decline in the 20th century from the northern part of its range (B.C., Washington, Oregon), there is little doubt that this species is native to Canada. Therefore, we propose a status of Extirpated for Clemmys marmorata in Canada.

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