DAKOTA COUNTY -- "They're one of nine turtle species in the state of Minnesota. They are a medium size turtle, about 8 to 9 inches in length. They have a big dome shell. The bottom part of the shell is unique. It is hinged and can close up and protect itself," said Scott Hagen, Natural Resource Specialist, Dakota County.
Blanding's turtles are a threatened species and they primarily live around the Great Lakes region and have a small zone in Minnesota where they call home. While their populations are declining, there are signs of hope in a Dakota County park.
"This year we actually found two female Blanding's turtles nesting and laying their eggs. So we were able to protect those nests by laying down chicken wire and stapling it down to the ground," said Scott.
A big reason for their threatened status is unlike a painted or snapper turtle, they require a much larger habitat.
"They can nest up to a mile away from the wetland they are in. Once the hatchlings emerge they have to find their way back to a wetland somewhere. When they are so small they are susceptible to predators," said Scott.
Park officials are currently using these small transmitters to track five Blanding's turtles to study how they move around the park and where they spend their time to better understand how to improve their habitat.