BMRG has taken a significant step in protecting one of Queensland’s most threatened freshwater species, the White-throated Snapping Turtle (WTST), with three nests recently located and protected across four priority sites.
Between 18 March and 24 July 2025, BMRG staff Ben Hoekstra and Sydney Collett conducted 27 turtle nesting bank surveys, timed around seven rain events. These surveys were part of ongoing conservation work along Baffle Creek after receiving funding from Queensland Government’s Threatened Species Action Recovery Grant – Round 1. Each survey gathered valuable data on turtle activity (tracks, test holes), nesting bank conditions (slope, aspect), and threats such as predator tracks and signs of trampling.
WTST nesting typically occurs after rain events between March and August. Uniquely, the eggs enter a state of diapause after being laid—remaining dormant over winter and only hatching with the arrival of summer. This extended incubation period leaves nests particularly vulnerable to predators, livestock, and feral animals.
Of the three nests discovered during the surveys, two were protected in situ, while the third was carefully relocated higher up the bank due to its vulnerable position. These nests are expected to hatch during the summer months of December and January and will be monitored closely throughout this period.
By identifying and securing active nests, BMRG is helping improve hatchling survival rates for the WTST. Continued monitoring and habitat protection remain critical to the turtle’s long-term recovery.