Posted on: 2017-07-04 09:30:27

 

🐢 Happy Independence Day! As you celebrate freedom, take a few moments to check out recent turtles stories you may have missed.

Today’s news includes several turtle releases. How appropriate; they had their very own independence days!

Also, Florida officials are asking people to respect nesting shorebirds and sea turtles on beaches during the holiday. Of course, this should be true every day, but for the 4th they’ve added a request to keep personal fireworks off the beach.

Recent Box Turtle News

We shared it last week, but this lighthearted box turtle story from Louisiana deserves another share.

Life lessons from a box turtle: The author shares what she has learned from a box turtle that has moved into her yard.

Recent U. S. Turtle News

Winnie, Scooby & other sea turtles just had their own independence days. Babies are experiencing their own freedom … from their eggs! And saving diamond back terrapin nests, among other turtle stories.

Winnie goes home: She was weak and seriously underweight back in April. Now she’s healthy and free.

Scooby & friends also back home: Scooby & Martha, two loggerhead turtles, along with two green sea turtles were released into the Gulf on June 28. They had been treated by the Gulfarium C.A.R.E Foundation. (Video & pictures)

Sea turtle hatching begins: At least on Sanibel and Captiva. The islands saw the first nest hatching on June 26. There’s still a lot more nests to go … 448 based on the June 24 count!

Turtle walks on Longboat Key: Join Mote Marine Lab volunteers walk the beach every morning to check for sea turtle activity. On Saturday mornings the public is invited to join them!

A reminder to watch traffic while helping turtles! A semi hit a woman trying to help a turtle avoid getting squished. 🙁 (Illinois)

Turtle census … and why you shouldn’t release pet turtles: Two days of trapping, measuring and tagging turtles to monitor the population. Especially the Red-Eared Slider, which is not native, but often out-competes native turtles. 🙁

A unique, living art installation: Pieces of limestone arranged to form a turtle shape were dropped into the Gulf of Mexico to make an artificial reef.

That’s a big, ancient turtle! Well, technically it’s “just” a bone from a turtle. But this shoulder girdle is about 1 meter wide (over 3 feet) and 24 million years old.

Helping diamond back terrapins on Long Beach Island: It’s a community effort, spurred on by the passion of one woman. Kathy Lacey founded the Terrapin Nesting Project, relocates nests to safe hatcheries, and educates the public. Even better, the public listens and wants to help!

And you can still help NJ name its state reptile or report turtle sightings in VT or southern 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

International news also includes turtles regaining their freedom. Also a breakthrough in studying a deadly tumor disease in green sea turtles, another green sea turtle in rehab, and talking turtles. Plus more stories, some fun and some sad.

Relocated turtles back home: Remember the turtles captured and relocated before the America’s Cup? They’ve been released from their temporary enclosure. (Bermuda)

11 Sea Turtles go back to sea in Hong Kong: The 10 green sea turtles and 1 hawksbill were seized from a raft back in September. Veterinarians at Ocvean Park Hong Kong had cared for them since then.

Lucky hawksbill turtle helped out of a tight spot: It was stuck behind some rocks. Luckily it wasn’t injured, so it got to go right back home after rescue.

Growing green turtle skin in the lab: The laboratory-created skin will allow scientists to study the virus that causes firbropapillomatosis. This tumor disease is often fatal.

More on the how & why of growing green turtle skin: This story is written in plainer English than the above one. So it may be easier to understand just why this breakthrough is so important.

Mowing down turtles? Officials aren’t sure if mowers accidentally killed four turtles or if somebody deliberately smashed their shells. (Alberta)

Paley is slowly recovering: She’s a green sea turtle in rehab at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. She got her name because she was so pale from lack of sunlight and being kept in freshwater.

Bread thief! Goldfish and turtle fight for a piece of bread … but none of them get it! See who does. 😀

Yes, turtles do talk: At least some of them. And scientists have the recordings to prove it.

Why so many injured turtles this year? The Ontario Turtle Trauma Center has seen more turtle patients in the first 6 months of this year than all of last year.

Good news for Blanding’s turtles: At least in Toronto. The Toronto Zoo’s breeding program has helped boost their numbers.

And ‘Biscuit Boy’ deserves another share:

• Breads & cookies for the turtles: No, not for them to eat. An 11-year-old boy with big dreams sells them for humans to eat, then donates the money to sea turtle organizations. Now he’s selling a cookbook of his recipes to help even more.