Page 72 - 2023 LAKE ST CLAIR GUIDE

Craft Beers
Cocktails
Full Bar
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Hour @ 3pm

10 TVs RIBS BURGERS ITALIAN
KENO PIZZA OYSTERS SEAFOOD so lots of tidbits, absorb small amounts of oxygen. Ice
some off topic!
or not, our local turtles will hibernate all
Moderate SALADS PRIME RIB STEAKS Why did I see winter due to the cold.
so many turtles As the water warms in spring, the
Prices Large WALLEYE & PERCH in a day? incr easing
Portions You’ll see Can I Eat That? temperature
Free Harrison Twp. Marina turtles from arouses tur-
Casual Shuttle to us - Call 586-612-4454 spring thru tles from their
Dining fall however winter sleep.
Great New HOURS: Wed 3-10pm to maximize The next part
Screened Sun 3-10pm Thurs 3-10pm sightings, of their life is
Patio! Mon 3-10pm Fri 3-11pm plan your tur- now to make
Tues Closed Sat 3-11pm tle boat tour baby turtles.
on the Clinton This is where
when
586-465-6565 River water we can pos-
sibly assist.
the
29370 South River Rd. - Harrison Twp. temperature Once awak-
ened, our lo-
is cooler –
North of 16 Mile & W. of Jefferson
www.RiverRatRestaurant.com spring & ear- cal turtles will
ly summer is
lay her eggs
best. Tur- around May
Let’s Talk Turtles tles bask in & June. A
Late May, on a cool but sunny af- the sun all season but increase typical nest
of eggs has
their time out of the water when
ternoon, we thought we’d stay off the the water is cooler. The basking a 20-25%
big water of Lake St. Clair to enjoy a warms their body chance for a
bit warmer protection
cruise of the Clinton Riv- temperature to turtle to be
er. What an amazing help in food di- Tom Goniea, DNR Fisheries born due to
gestion.
animals and
ride! I saw more turtles A turtle’s me- Division, Biologist pets instinc-
than I’d ever seen in an tabolism contin- tively digging
hour, easily 100+.
Our Michigan De- ues to slow down as up the eggs to eat. If you see a nest in
partment of Natural Re- the weather gets cold- your yard, and if you’d like to help the
er. They hibernate turtle out, you have two options:
sources in Lansing has during the winter at 1. Lay a 3’ x 3’ piece of chicken
been very helpful in an- the bottom of the lake wire over the nest and lay bricks on the
swering questions, and Snapping Turtles on the
I had some curiosity. I or river, some burying corners. You can remove the chicken
was directed to Thomas Clinton River in May themselves in mud, wire after two months; and OR, 2.
while their metabolism In the first 24-72 hours, take your sprin-
M. Goniea, DNR Fisher- slows down next to nothing eliminating kler, and simulate a “light rain” over the
ies Division, Biologist – and after and the need to breath. The most tolerant area. When the eggs are laid there is
hour and a half phone conversation,
this is THE guy who loves to talk Tur- of “low oxygen” turtles hibernate in the an odor animals in the area will be look-
tles!... and snakes, and many other lake, while some turtles take advan- ing for to dig up
tage of a river flowing over them to
species around our waterfront – fun call

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