Salvage of eggs from road-killed red-eared sliders, Trachemys scripta elegans

Published source details Tucker J.K. (1995) Salvage of eggs from road-killed red-eared sliders, Trachemys scripta elegans. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 1, 317-318.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Recover eggs from injured or dead reptiles Action Link
	Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles Action Link

Recover eggs from injured or dead reptiles

A replicated study in a laboratory in Illinois, USA (Tucker 1995) found that after incubating eggs recovered from road-killed red-eared sliders Trachemys scripta elegans, more than half of the eggs hatched successfully, and hatching success was higher for eggs from turtles found with intact shells compared to those with open shells. Forty-three of 67 (64%) eggs hatched successfully, and hatching success was higher for eggs recovered from turtles with intact shells (30 of 35, 86%) compared to those with open shells (13 of 32, 41 %). Of 32 turtles that were found on a road having been hit by a vehicle, nine contained 2–21 unbroken eggs. One turtle survived and was later released after laying eggs. Unbroken eggs were transferred to a laboratory and partially buried in perlite incubation medium in plastic containers (32 x 19 x 10 cm), with aluminium foil layered under the lid. Clutches were incubated separately. A road was searched for turtles hit by vehicles at least twice daily during the nesting season (months not given).

(Summarised by: William Morgan)
Relocate nests/eggs for artificial incubation: Tortoises, terrapins, side-necked & softshell turtles

A replicated study in a laboratory in Illinois, USA (Tucker 1995) found that after incubating eggs recovered from road-killed red-eared sliders Trachemys scripta elegans, more than half of the eggs hatched successfully, and hatching success was higher for eggs from turtles found with intact carapaces compared to those with open carapaces. Forty-three of 67 (64%) eggs hatched successfully. Hatching success was higher for eggs recovered from turtles with intact shells (30 of 35, 86 %) compared to those with shells that had been opened (13 of 32, 41 %). Of 32 turtles that were found on a road having been hit by a vehicle, nine contained 2–21 unbroken eggs. One turtle survived and was later released after laying eggs. Unbroken eggs were transferred to a laboratory and partially buried in perlite incubation medium in plastic containers (32 x 19 x 10 cm), with aluminium foil layered under the lid. Clutches were incubated separately. A road was searched for turtles hit by vehicles at least twice daily during the nesting season (months not given).

(Summarised by: William Morgan)