Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1901 — Crows as Enemies of Terrapins. [ARTICLE]

Crows as Enemies of Terrapins .

The crow Is the evil genius of thi turtle just as of the diamond back and other terrapins. When the warm days of spring come and the female terrapins and turtles leave their beds in ths marsh, the crow goes on guard, knowing that a season of feasting is at hand. Both terrapins and turtles seek the warm, sandy uplands near the shore to deposit their eggs. A hole is dug several Inches deep and from twenty to thirty oblong white eggs are deposited and then the nest is filled or covered with sand. Having neatly piled, the sand over the eggs, the turtle raises herself just as high as it is. possible, then comes down with a heavy thud on the sand. This is continued until the sand is quite hard, when the eggs are left to the sun to hatch. In the meantime the crow has been on guard, and by means of his sharp bill and strong claws the work of breaking into the treasure house of tho unsuspecting turtle is quickly accomplished and the feast is soon over. The crow is considered by many to be the greatest enemy the diamond back has. It is an easily established fact that the crow destroys thousands of the eggs of all kinds of terrapins, not making an exception of the diamond back.