The Central Valley of California once may have been the area of greatest turtle density within the range of the western pond turtle (Clemmys mamorata). Extensive draining of wetlands and habitat alteration in the past century has left few aquatic areas that are suitable for this species. A recent petition to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service argued that the western pond turtle needed protection from the Endangered Species Act because its populations were declining seriously, especially in the Central Valley where remaining populations were comprised of non-reproducing old adults. In 1999, we visually surveyed 55 aquatic habitats on the valley floor of the Central Valley and, of these, trapped 17 (and some hand capture) to determine the current status of the western pond turtle. We saw or caught turtles at 15 sites. Also, we suspect that turtles occur, at least in low numbers, at numerous other sites. Turtles were abundant at 5 sites in the Central Valley. At each of these sites, populations consisted of many young, but large, turtles. Turtles grew rapidly at all sites. Despite suffering large population declines in this century, western pond turtles in the Central Valley still persist at a number of sites and these populations appear to have sufficient recruitment to maintain numbers.
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