Smithsonian uses X-rays, cups and 216-yard threads to find turtle nests; 13 of 16 were raided

Eastern box turtle (Image Credit: Canva) Finding a turtle nest in the wild is far more difficult than it sounds. Smithsonian researchers studying Eastern box turtles in Virginia have been using a combination of technology and surprisingly simple tools to locate nests and understand what happens to the eggs after they are laid. Their unusual field equipment includes a portable X-ray machine, plastic cups and spools of thread stretching 216 yards. These methods helped the researchers locate 16 nests during eight weeks of fieldwork. But what they found was concerning: predators had raided 13 of those 16 nests, sometimes within just hours after the eggs were laid. According to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, which reported the research, the findings are giving scientists a closer look at one of the threats facing Eastern box turtles.Why turtle nests are hard to findEastern box turtles can spend considerable time searching for the right place to lay their eggs. A female usually digs a small hole in the soil, lays two to five eggs and then covers the nest before moving away. For researchers, the challenge is knowing when a female is ready to nest and wh...