Alligator Snapping Turtle Research

We here at the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve (SJBSBP) always enjoy it when researchers come to visit and share their expertise with us on a variety of incredibly interesting subjects. This past week we had the honor of hosting a USGS team that was researching alligator snapping turtles near SJBSBP property. This team of scientists were using an auto sampler that takes in water samples at planned intervals and then analyzes for trace D.N.A.. They are currently looking at samples on the Eglin Air Force Base satellite site on Cape San Blas but are looking at expanding the research into nearby areas and possibly even Buffer property! The reason for this monitoring is the concern over alligator snapping turtle populations. They are looking to determine the status of this species and the possibility of it being listed as imperiled. We here at the Buffer have yet to hear about their results but are looking forward to finding out more about alligator snapping turtle populations in this area!