Posted on: 2017-07-11 09:30:42
Turtle news we found interesting recently. Did you miss any of these?
Recent Box Turtle News
Several good news stories about box turtles recently.
- Fiberglass box turtle: A vet in Ohio fixed a boxie’s broken shell with fiberglass a few years ago and released him. Recently she discovered her old patient just hanging out in the woods. How did she know it was him? The fiberglass “bandage” was still attached!
- Bourret’s box turtle babies update: We shared a story about the endangered turtle hatchlings back in June. The National Zoo says they’re doing great … and they may have some younger siblings by the end of July!
- Good news for the Keeled Box Turtle This species of Asian Box Turtle is endangered, like so many of its cousins. But the Turtle Conservation Center has had recent success with breeding them. It says 2016 was its best year yet.
Recent U. S. Turtle News
Protecting turtles … from harvesting, careless humans, cars, and even planes! Plus more.
Cold-blooded scientist?: Nah. Just a spiny softshell turtle making itself at home on the Fermilab grounds.
Can turtle populations survive commercial harvesting? Part 2: Last week we shared that Missouri wants to limit commercial turtle harvesting. Today we have a similar story from Ohio.
This is why you don’t leave your chairs on the beach: Or other trash either. The story doesn’t say if they think she laid a nest or not. But if not, someone’s carelessness may have killed not only this female, but also all her potential babies.
Blitzen the sea turtle is back home: The poor guy was weak & malnourished back in December when he showed up on Hutchinson Island. The folks at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center nursed him back to health (with shrimp popsicles, among other things!) and he went back to the sea June 29. (Video)
Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles crawl to the sea: All summer Sea Turtle Inc. does sunrise hatchling releases. And this summer has been a good one. Here’s hoping the little cuties grow up & come back to nest. (Video)
Diamondback terrapins go home: Scientists found the eggs last summer on Louisiana’s barrier islands. They hatched in September and are now big enough for release.
Fertile Myrtle is at it again: The ambitious loggerhead must be trying to single-handedly save her species. She’s been nesting on Bear Island and Emerald Isle since at least 2012. And in just the past 3 seasons she’s laid 11 nests!
Doing more to protect Ocean City’s Diamondback Terrapins: City Council member has proposed more turtle-crossing signs to remind drivers to watch out for the slow little creatures. A local resident would like to see barriers, too. (New Jersey)
More Diamondback Terrapin news: Nesting females causing traffic jams … at JFK airport! The airlines can legitimately say this one wasn’t their fault! 😀
These two stories are still relevant. Help elect NJ’s state reptile and/or share turtle sightings in Vermont & Quebec.
- Help elect the Bog turtle New Jersey’s state reptile!: Supporters from around the world have been signing the petition. Add your name! They’re still far from their goal of 5,000 supporters.
- Help count turtles around northern Vermont & southern Quebec: Memphremagog Conservation Inc is asking residents to report turtle sightings. The census runs from June through October.
Recent International Turtle News
Several stories about released pet turtles, along with one about a decidedly spoiled pet turtle. Plus turtle releases, hatchlings, and more.
40 sea turtles back home in waters around Dubai: They were released for World Sea Turtle Day in June. Five have satellite trackers so scientists can see where they go.
Turtle poaching … again! It seems there’s always somebody willing to pay top dollar for endangered turtles. And somebody to supply them, in this case 200 Indian star tortoises. It’s not the first time this father and son have been caught.
Poor turtle is luckier than most released pets: The endangered wood turtle has metabolic bone disease, so it was clearly someone’s pet. Luckily it didn’t freeze to death or get euthanized, like many released pet turtles. Instead it has a nice new home in a wildlife sanctuary. (British Columbia)
Lucky wood turtle’s new name is Burnaby: He’s named after the Vancouver suburb where he was found. His new home is a wildlife sanctuary in Severn, Ontario. He will be the sanctuary’s spokesturtle, helping educate people about wood turtles. (Video)
Places red-eared sliders don’t belong: Southern Ontario for one. And pretty much anywhere other than the southern United States. Unfortunately, this popular pet often finds itself suddenly unwanted and dumped in nearby waters. And they can put native turtles at risk. 🙁
Sliders invade Poland: Ok, not exactly. But red-eared and yellow-belly sliders are popular pets, just like in the US. Also like in the US, people often release them into the wild. Since they are not native to Poland, they can cause problems for other animals.
Meet Thunder: She makes a splash on land and in the water. After all, how often do you see a red-eared slider on a leash? (Video) (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Recyclable sea creature art: Schoolchildren made sculptures of marine creatures from recyclable materials. The idea was to get them thinking about how people impact sea life, especially with plastic pollution. (Pilbara, Western Australia)
Two softshell turtles hatch on July 4: Mama was injured, but rehabbers at the Clinic for the Rehabiliation o f Wildlife saved her eggs. They started with 18, but most were not viable. Two are left after the two that hatched.
Two lost sea turtles heading home: They were “floaters,” that is they had gasses trapped under their shells. This meant they couldn’t dive. So they just floated on the currents until rescued, far from home, in South Australia.