Retrospective Analysis of Hatchling Survival from Harvested Reptile Eggs at a North Carolina State Wildlife Clinic
Abstract
The North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Turtle Rescue Team has been treating sick and injured wild chelonians and other reptiles since 1996.1-3 In addition to treating patients directly presenting to the clinic, the Turtle Rescue Team collects and incubates eggs laid by living patients and harvested from deceased patients. Healthy hatchlings are released or rehomed in the case of non-native species. Previous studies directly related to this topic are limited. Eggs from marine turtles are commonly incubated in hatcheries as a conservation effort, and conditions in these facilities have been shown to affect hatchlings.
Experimental studies in several chelonian species have found that incubation conditions can affect hatching success and hatchling fitness.4-10 Turtle Rescue Team egg and hatchling records exist from 2010 to 2019, and this study includes all patients that have presented as gravid females or eggs over this 10-year period. The species represented were common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina), eastern painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta), diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin), cooters (Pseudemys spp.), eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina), eastern mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum), common musk turtles (Sternotherus odoratus), red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), and a black rat snake (Pantheropis alleghaniensis). Available data included species, number of eggs collected, number of hatchlings, as well as dates and morbidity and mortality factors for the parents and hatchlings. These data were examined to summarize results over time and elucidate any factors that may affect hatchling success. Results of this study represent opportunities to improve raising of hatchlings in captive settings, which can be important for species conservation.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine Turtle Rescue Team for their work in caring for patients and keeping records and Yvette Johnson-Walker, DVM, MS, PhD for her assistance with statistical analysis.
*Presenting author
+Student presenter
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