Predator Exclusion Cage for Turtle Nests: A Novel Design

Three predator exclusion devices were designed and deployed with the goal of denying raccoons access to simulated turtle nests (n = 116) for 48 hrs. A novel design, a roughly conical cage constructed using wooden dowels for bars, protected nests through 3 trials at rates of 100% (n = 4), 100% (n = 8), and 70% (n = 84). This new cage design offers a portable, inexpensive, and reusable alternative for protecting nests of diamondback terrapins and potentially other emydid species.