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TURTLE PAGES: Main Page     Background     Radio Tracking     Report Sighting     Estimating Population Size     Lawn Mowers     Research Permit     LAWN MOWERS Of the ten adult females we've seen so far, five have major damage to their shells, while none of the males have such injuries. These are likely from encounters with lawn mowers when females seek out egg-laying sites in grassy openings in early summer. Sustained adult female mortality can be devastating to turtle populations. Using high cutting mowers, and avoidinig mowing during egg laying season (late spring/early summer) have helped in other communities. We're still learning about the egg laying habits of the turtles in our neighborhood, and hope that our research will provide further guidance.