This fall, an exciting discovery unfolded at Knoll Family Wildlife Sanctuary when Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) graduate student Deja Johnston and her research team with Dr. Richard Essner confirmed the presence of a small population of ornate box turtles. As a state-threatened species in Illinois, these turtles need healthy prairies to survive. While previous surveys had found only a few individuals, these new findings suggest that Knoll supports a thriving population.
“Many didn’t believe we would find any ornate box turtles here, but we identified six unique individuals – all adult females,” Deja shared. One discovery in particular stood out to her: “The excitement of finding our first turtle was amazing. When we discovered her, she was eating on prickly pear. She was not eating the fruit, but the pad. I was surprised because of how much fruit was available.”
Ornate box turtles rely on sand prairies with plants like little bluestem, blackjack oak, and prickly pear cactus. These habitats are increasingly rare due to habitat loss and being broken up by development. Deja’s research is shedding light on these turtles’ movement patterns, helping to inform conservation strategies. “By understanding their home range, we’ll have a better idea of the area needed for this population to survive and grow,” she explained.
Protecting and managing sand prairies benefits the turtles and supports the broader web of life that depends on this disappearing ecosystem.
How to Help the Sand Prairies - and the Turtles, too
The Knoll Family Wildlife Sanctuary was preserved in 2023 to protect its rare sand prairie and sand savanna habitat. Just down the road, Poag Sand Prairie features a similar wildlife habitat. With less than 2,500 acres of sand prairie left in the state, these preserves provide refuge for species that depend on open, sandy prairies.
Protecting adult ornate box turtles is key to the conservation of their species. That means ensuring large, connected prairies remain free from threats like habitat loss, development, vehicles, and illegal collection.
If you’re interested in helping or learning more, there are opportunities to volunteer to help restore the sand prairies and we host walks at the prairies throughout the year. Sign up for our monthly volunteer enews to be notified of upcoming dates.