In 2016, I had the unique opportunity to witness a female Northern Map turtle laying her eggs under the deck of my cottage. This was a strange spot to find a turtle, and it demonstrates the extent turtles will go to find decent nesting sites. It is not uncommon to have turtles nest on private property, even very close to large structures such as cottages. For this reason, it is vital that all lake and cottage goers be aware of the presence of nests, and take whatever steps they can to help their survival.