Editing Painted turtle (section)

===Conservation===

[[File:Turtle crossing sign, April 2010.jpg|thumb|upright|British Columbia road sign (for painted turtle protection)|alt=An orange, diamond-shaped sign on the right side of a winding road way that says "Slow: crossing season" with a picture of a turtle.]]

{{Main|Conservation of painted turtles}}
The species is currently classified as [[least concern]] by the [[IUCN]] but populations have been subject to decline locally.<ref name=iucn/>

The decline in painted turtle populations is not a simple matter of dramatic range reduction, like that of the [[:File:Extermination of bison to 1889.svg|American bison]]. Instead the turtle is classified as G5 (demonstrably widespread) in its [[NatureServe conservation status|Natural Heritage Global Rank]],{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=5}} and the [[IUCN]] rates it as a species of [[least concern]].{{sfn|Rhodin et al.|2010|p=000.99}} The painted turtle's high reproduction rate and its ability to survive in polluted wetlands and artificially made ponds have allowed it to maintain its range,<ref name="wcsu.edu-Species-identification" /><ref name="TC Proj">{{cite web|title=Painted turtle: ''Chrysemys picta''|url=http://www.turtleconservationproject.org/painted-turtle-facts.html|publisher=Turtle Conservation Project|access-date=2010-12-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922222101/http://www.turtleconservationproject.org/painted-turtle-facts.html|archive-date=2010-09-22}}</ref> but the post-Columbus settlement of North America has reduced its numbers.{{sfn|Carr|1952|p=228}}{{sfn|Ernst|Lovich|2009|pp=23–32}}

Only within the Pacific Northwest is the turtle's range eroding. Even there, in Washington, the painted turtle is designated S5 (demonstrably widespread). However, in Oregon, the painted turtle is designated S2 (imperiled),{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=9}} and in British Columbia, the turtle's populations in the [[British Columbia Coast|Coast]] and [[British Columbia Interior|Interior]] regions are labeled "endangered"<ref name="sara2010">{{cite news | title = Species profile western painted turtle Pacific coast population | date = 2010-01-11 | publisher = Government of Canada | url = http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=902 | work = Species at Risk Public Registry | access-date = 2010-11-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130610224623/http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=902 | archive-date = 2013-06-10 | url-status = dead }}</ref> and "of special concern", respectively.<ref name="SARA2010">{{cite news | title = Species profile western painted turtle intermountain&nbsp;– Rocky Mountain population | date = 2010-01-11 | publisher = Government of Canada | url = http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=903 | work = Species at Risk Public Registry | access-date = 2010-11-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130610233735/http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=903 | archive-date = 2013-06-10 | url-status = dead }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|The iconic painted turtle is popular in British Columbia, and the province is spending to save the painted turtle as only a few thousand turtles remain in the entire province.<ref name="HAT PR">{{cite web|last=Carnahan|first=Todd|title=Western painted turtles|url=http://www.hat.bc.ca/stewardship-projects/stewardship-group1-helping-people-steward-nature/turtles.html|publisher=Habitat Acquisition Trust|access-date=2010-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102010513/http://www.hat.bc.ca/stewardship-projects/stewardship-group1-helping-people-steward-nature/turtles.html <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=2010-11-02}}</ref><ref name="BC Frogwatch">{{cite web|title=B.C. frogwatch program: Painted turtle|url=http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/okanagan/esd/atlas/species/turtle.html|publisher=British Columbia Ministry of Environment|access-date=2011-07-21}}</ref><ref name="Nilsen">{{cite news|last=Nilsen|first=Emily|title=Protecting the painted turtle|url=http://blog.conservancy.bc.ca/2010/08/protecting-the-painted-turtle/|access-date=2010-12-11|newspaper=Nelson Express|date=2010-08-09}}</ref>{{sfn|COSEWIC|2006|p=29}}|group="nb"}}

Much is written about the different factors that threaten the painted turtle, but they are unquantified, with only inferences of relative importance.{{sfn|Ernst|Barbour|Lovich|1994|p=294}}{{sfn|Ernst|Lovich|2009|p=211}}{{sfn|Carr|1952|p=228}} A primary threat category is habitat loss in various forms. Related to water habitat, there is drying of [[Wetlands of the United States|wetlands]], clearing of aquatic logs or rocks (basking sites), and clearing of shoreline vegetation, which allows more predator access{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=33}} or increased human foot traffic.<ref name="Hayes">{{cite report|author=Hayes, M. P.|display-authors=4|author2=Beilke, S. G.|author3=Boczkiewicz, S. M.|author4=P. B. Hendrix, P. I.|author5=Ritson, P. I.|author6=Rombough, C. J. |title=The western painted turtle (''Chrysemys picta bellii'') at the Rivergate industrial district: management options and opportunities|date=2002}} cited in {{harvnb|Gervais et al.|2009}}</ref><ref name="Leuteritz">{{cite journal|last=Leuteritz|first=T. E. |author2=Manson, C. J.|title=Preliminary observations on the effects of human perturbation on basking behavior in the midland painted turtle (''Chrysemys picta marginata'') |journal=Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society|date=1996|volume=32|pages=16–23}} cited in {{harvnb|Gervais et al.|2009}}</ref> Related to nesting habitat, urbanization or planting can remove needed sunny soils.{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=36}}

Another significant human impact is roadkill—dead turtles, especially females, are commonly seen on summer roads.{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=34}} In addition to direct killing, roads [[Genetic isolate|genetically isolate]] some populations.{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=34}} Localities have tried to limit roadkill by constructing underpasses,{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=47}} highway barriers,<ref name="Missoulian" /> and crossing signs.<ref name="Ottowa">{{cite web|last=Holmes|first=Dianne|title=Report on turtle crossing signs proposal|url=http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/archives/rmoc/Regional_Council/11Oct00/item2_70.pdf|publisher=Region of Ottawa-Carleton|quote= ... inexpensive and morally exemplary ..."}}</ref> Oregon has introduced public education on turtle awareness, safe swerving, and safely assisting turtles across the road.<ref>{{cite journal | title = On the ground: The Oregon conservation strategy at work | journal = Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) | date = February 2010 | first = Meg | last = Kenagy| url = http://www.dfw.state.or.us/conservationstrategy/news/2010/2010_february.asp | access-date = 2011-01-07}}</ref>

In the West, human-introduced bass, bullfrogs, and especially snapping turtles, have increased the predation of hatchlings.<ref name="Missoulian" />{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=35}} Outside the Southeast, where [[Pond slider|sliders]] are native, released pet [[red-eared slider]] turtles increasingly compete with painted turtles.{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=6}} In cities, increased urban predators (raccoons, canines, and felines) may impact painted turtles by eating their eggs.{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=33}}

Other factors of concern for the painted turtles include over-collection from the wild,<ref name="Gamble2004" /> released pets introducing diseases<ref name="IN FG pet" /> or reducing [[genetic variability]],{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=6}} pollution,{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|pp=36–37}} boating traffic, angler's hooks (the turtles are noteworthy bait-thieves), wanton shooting, and crushing by agricultural machines or golf course lawnmowers or [[all-terrain vehicle]]s.{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=37}}<ref name="AZ FG" /><ref name="VA FG" /> Gervais and colleagues note that research itself impacts the populations and that much funded turtle trapping work has not been published. They advocate discriminating more on what studies are done, thereby putting fewer turtles into scientists' traps.{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=40}} [[Global warming]] represents an uncharacterized future threat.{{sfn|Ernst|Lovich|2009|pp=23–32}}{{sfn|Gervais et al.|2009|p=38}}

As the most common turtle in [[Nova Scotia]], the eastern painted turtle is not listed under the Species at Risk Act for conservation requirements.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Nova Scotia Museum|year=2017|title=Eastern Painted Turtle|url=https://novascotia.ca/museum/amphibians/en/turtles/painted.asp}}</ref>

[[File:Oregon's Native Turtles.ogv|center|thumbtime=1:25|thumb|'''Oregon conservation video:''' <!-- Do not cut the citations containing links to youtube and state of Oregon. 80% of Wiki readers can not see ogg formatted videos. It's same video, but viewable by people using most browsers. -->If video play problematic, try external links within citations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dfw.state.or.us/images/video_gallery/oregon_native_turtles.asp |title=News and Highlights: Video Gallery – Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife |publisher=Dfw.state.or.us |date=2011-01-26 |access-date=2011-02-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeTVghxdZwI | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/UeTVghxdZwI| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=Oregon's Native Turtles | date=26 January 2011|publisher=YouTube |access-date=2011-02-06}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Note list of factors at 0:30–0:60 and hoop trap at 1:50–2:00.]]