Habitat - Outdoor :: My RES laid eggs in my garden and I want to leave them

[akwikel]

I Google info on turtle eggs and everyone always digs them up and incubates them. It is June in California and I couldnt think of a more natural way to let the eggs hatch than to just leave them, but since I did not breed the RES and a friend found this non-native in the wild, this will be the only batch that is viable most likely, so I really want to see them hatch. Any suggestions on keeping them viable?

[packfan1]

From what I have heard, the best thing to do is to let nature takes it course. It is hard to determine how many will survive. It is also suggested that owners not allow them to hatch as there is an overpopulation of res turtles in the US. Do you intend on keeping them or any? If you do so then you need to start research on a proper set up for as many as you keep. You may also want to check your states laws regarding them. Yes, there are laws in some states about turtles.
And as a side note, from what I have read here, females will lay eggs even if they are not fertile.
Good luck

[akwikel]

I may keep one; I have a medium sized koi pond and that is the reason my biologist friend entrusted this non-native to me. She is against them being in the wild, where she found it roaming, so there is a very good chance they are fertiziled, I have no idea. I guess we will just see what happens! Thank you! I didnt want to dig them up and do all this scientific indoor stuff like everyone posts about. Turtles were hatching long before we were digging up their eggs and incubating them!

[marisa]

ackwikel, yesterday one of the largest snappers I've ever seen decided to make a nest and lay eggs next to a small vegetable garden I have. I'm not going to dig them up, but I am going to "protect" the eggs. I'm keeping the nest covered with wire to prevent them from being dug up (unfortunately there's not much I can do about the moles that burrow underground, though). If you choose to protect the nest, you could stake some hardware cloth over the nest and check it periodically, especially around hatching time, when the wire would need to be lifted to let them out.