Desiccated turtles found in dense European common Reed (Phragmites australis subsp. australis) and hybrid Blue Cattail (Typha ×glauca) habitat at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario

Abstract

Invasive wetland plants can alter hydrology and vegetation structure, with potential consequences for wildlife. During vegetation surveys at Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada, I observed two cases of turtle desiccation in dense stands of invasive European common Reed (Phragmites australis subsp. australis) and invasive hybrid Blue Cattail (Typha ×glauca). In 2022, a juvenile Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was found desiccated on a thick, dry mat of hybrid Blue Cattail. In 2024, a juvenile Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) was found desiccated in a dense European common Reed patch similarly lacking surface water. These observations suggest that dense, hydrologically isolated patches of invasive wetland vegetation may pose a risk to turtles’ survival during hot, dry periods, possibly by limiting access to open water or cooler microhabitats.