Posted on: 2019-04-05 10:30:09

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Recent turtle news we found interesting.

Some good news for sea turtles. Some not-so-good news for sea turtles. And a look at the 2nd Flying Honu design from ANA.

Also 2 stolen turtles are returned. Tiny terrapins go back into the wild. And video of a deputy serving & protecting a rather small & slow citizen.

Plus more.

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Recent Box Turtle News

The box turtles are still avoiding the news these days! Enjoy this hungry baby boxie from the I Love Turtles Facebook page instead.

Recent U. S. Turtle News

The slow & steady march toward replacing bright white lights near beaches with turtle-safe ones continues. L.L. Bean recognizes the wisdom of a 7-year old’s request. And what do the turtles like about their home on a National Guard base? Plus more.

Sea turtles news

7-year-old asks L.L. Bean CEO to help protect sea turtles & other marine life: And the company is now switching from plastic straws to biodegradable ones. Kudos to young Benjamin for taking action on something he believes in. And to Steve Smith for taking him seriously. Includes video.

So many beached sea turtles: Cape Cod saw 10x more sea turtles wash ashore this past winter than in 2008. Includes pictures.

More amber or red lights good news for sea turtles: Okaloosa County (Florida) got a grant to install the lights at area beaches. The county passed a sea turtle-friendly lighting ordinance last spring.

Is SpaceX unfriendly to sea turtles? Just as nesting season has started Sea Turtle, Inc. was blocked from doing their daily beach patrols to look for nests. SpaceX was doing testing and Boca Chica Beach was closed to the public for several days. The beach is one of the few beaches in the US where Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (the rarest sea turtle) nests. Includes video.

3.5 pounds of wet sand removed from sea turtle’s shell: The green sea turtle was rescued in North Myrtle Beach last weekend. Includes picture of the very sandy turtle.

Miscellaneous turtles news

70 diamondback terrapin babies finally back home: The little ones washed ashore with a bunch of seaweed during hurricane Michael last October. Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife recently released them in a safe spot. Includes video & pictures. (Florida)

Turtles perfectly happy to share their habitat with National Guard base: In fact, the wood turtle & Blanding’s turtle are flourishing on the base. Researchers want to know why.

Public Sculpture Turtle Trail gets 3rd turtle sculpture: The stained-glass inspired turtle occupies a place of honor at Grand Haven’s Village Center. (Florida)

Sheriff’s Office deputy ‘arrests’ turtle for jaywalking: He let it off with a warning after getting it safely across the busy roadway. Video. (Florida)

Who doesn’t love a spa day?: Certainly Onassis the centenarian South American River turtle seemed to enjoy her shell scrubbing!

 

 

Recent International Turtle News

This week’s stories are mostly about sea turtles nesting & sea turtles going home. Plus it’s always nice to see a company that cares about protecting the environment for local wildlife.

But first some good news out of New Zealand …

Bill & Ben are back home: The 2 turtles were stolen from an early childhood centre in early March (who does that?!). But last week someone dropped them off in front of the center. (New Zealand)

Turtles can be good for business … and vice versa

2nd ‘Flying Honu’ makes its debut: It’s one of 3 specially painted planes All Nippon Airways will be flying on its Hawaiian routes. The 1st was blue. This one is green.

Power plant protecting its shoreline for the turtles: The turtles don’t care what’s nearby, as long as they can find suitable nesting sites. And this coal-fired power plant has hosted 3 nests this year. Company officials have vowed to keep the beaches clean for the turtles.

Sea turtles released

21 loggerheads back home off Western Australia: The juvenile turtles had washed ashore during storms. Includes brief video.

Sea turtle with potentially deadly infection finally back at sea: It could barely breathe due to blockage in its nostrils when it was rescued. It and a 2nd turtle were rescued from fishing line 3 months ago. Includes picture & video. (Argentina)

Seagull snatches its 15 minutes of fame … by snatching a newly released sea turtle hatchling right on camera. We know it happens. Predators are part of the reason turtle patrols work so hard to protect nests & the hatchlings. But it’s definitely startling to see such graphic proof. Video. Read more about what happened & possibly why here. (Australia)

Sea turtle nesting

Another hatchery set up to protect eggs laid along the banks of the river Ganga: Farmers used to destroy nests when plowing for planting season. Now they help protect nests & collect eggs. (northern India)

Enticing Olive Ridleys to Visakhapatnam’s beaches: The city on India’s southeastern coast is proud the number of nests has been increasing. But activists also know they have more work to do to increase survival rates.