Posted on: 2018-05-11 10:30:21

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Recent turtle news that caught our eyes.

This week has seen lots of turtles on lots of roads. Many of them were lucky to have patient humans come to their rescue. But wildlife centers are also seeing too many turtles who lost fights with cars.

Sadly Canada’s turtles have one more enemy to deal with. But hopefully Arkansas’ turtles will soon be safe from commercial harvesting.

Plus arrests, rescues, artificial flippers for one lucky little turtle, and more.

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Recent Box Turtle News

Box turtles are are the move! But are they in northern Massachusetts? Some evidence suggests yes.

And 2 little boxies got some help moving a bit faster to avoid a nearby fire.

Two box turtles manage to avoid fire, with a little help: A park ranger saw them before the fast-moving brush fire got to them & moved them to a safer spot. Includes pictures. (Maryland)

Are there box turtles in northern Middlesex & Essex Counties in Massachusetts? Evidence suggests yes, but they’ve never been documented. One woman is trying to change that & may have found one population. She’d also like your help finding more.

Recent U. S. Turtle News

Turtles are out everywhere it seems. Especially snappers. In the middle of the road!

Please watch out for them (all turtles, not just snappers). Help them if you can. Or call for help if they’re in danger & you can’t help yourself.

Also a pampered tortoise needs a new home, a sea turtle gets a transfusion, and much more.

Let’s start with something cute

Tiny tortoise demolishes hibiscus: In this video a little Russian tortoise inspects the flower & then grabs huge mouthfuls. 💚

Snapping turtles keeping first responders busy

Officer takes snapping turtle into custody: Releases it on its own recognizance in the Musconetcong River. Includes pictures. (New Jersey)

Snapping turtle given a warning about obstructing traffic: The officer also made sure it got across the street safely. Includes picture. (North Carolina)

Fire department helps free snapping turtle from tight spot: She had gotten herself wedged between rocks. She spent the night at a rehab center & then went home. Includes pictures & video. (Wisconsin)

State Troopers remove snapper from New Jersey Turnpike: It was ambling along at significantly less than the speed limit, causing a bit of a backup. Includes pictures.

Another N.J. snapper is quite content in the middle of the road: And it got a bit irritated when the officer encouraged it to move! The incident was captured on dashcam video.

Animal control reminds residents snappers are on the move: And animal control will come help the critters get across the street safely. So if you see one in danger, call them.

Turtle season reminders

Please create your sculptures somewhere else: No, not sandcastles. Rock arrangements. These cause just as much trouble for turtles as sandcastles and holes. Remember, officials ask you to knock down sandcastles & fill in holes at the end of the day. Now they’re asking you to not build rock sculptures on the beach.

Choosing turtle friendly lighting: Your options today are better than even just 5 years ago. So if you live on (or even near) the beach, make sure your lights don’t confuse the sea turtles. This includes indoor lights that may shine out through a beach-facing window.

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch plans for a safe turtle season: That means spreading the word about turtle-friendly lighting & leaving beaches clean at the end of the day. Learn more about how the group operates here.

In turtle vs. car, turtle usually loses: One Wisconsin wildlife center is treating lots of turtles with cracked shells. So it’s reminding drivers to slow down & avoid hitting the turtles. (Of course, that advice applies even if you don’t live in Wisconsin!).

Can you help?

Tommy the desert tortoise needs a new home: His owner has had him for more than 35 years, but she’s getting older, and she wants to find him a good new home while she still can.

The Maryland Coastal Bays needs help counting … Diamondback terrapins, that is. The annual count will be May 29 – June 2 this year. If you can help, they’d love to hear from you!

Miscellaneous turtle news

A call to ban commercial turtle trapping in Arkansas: The author wants the state to join Alabama, Florida, North Carolina & others that have already done this. It may be the only way to save the state’s native turtles.

Michael is finally back home: He was one of the many (many!) cold-stunned turtles rescued back in January. His recovery took longer than most, but the little green sea turtle finally got to go home last week.

Sebastian gets a blood transfusion: Scientists don’t know too much about sea turtle blood. But they know enough to be able to give transfusions when necessary. Sebastian was severely anemic, so he really needed one. (Florida)

Who butchered a green sea turtle? The turtle was found floating at Hilo beach park, minus its front flippers. 🙁 Warning: Includes picture of the floating turtle. (Hawaii)

Another green sea turtle butchered in Hawaii: But witnesses to the crime called it in, and the man was arrested.

Every straw helps: Every straw not used, that is. And this restaurant ditched the plastic straws in favor of biodegradable. But they also encourage you to skip the straw entirely. Sea turtles & other marine life would like you to eat there and support their efforts to be conscious of the environment. (Treasure, Island, Florida)

 

 

Recent International Turtle News

Good news & bad news for Canada’s turtles. A confused freshwater turtle gets saved from the sea. And a pet turtle gets new legs. Plus more.

Helping & understanding sea turtles

Columbia may limit tourist activity on nesting beach: Hawksbill turtles use ‘Playa Blanca” on Baru island as a nesting site. But tourists have come to like it too. So now the beach may be closed during nesting season to protect the turtles.

Help stranded baby loggerheads: It’s hatching & juvenile stranding season in South Africa’s Cape region. If you find a stranded turtle on the beach Two Oceans Aquarium wants to know, so it can get the turtle into rehab.

Citizen scientists make big impact: The recent Citizen Science Expo highlighted some of the ways “ordinary” people have helped scientists better understand sea turtles, rescued sea turtles and more. (Nova Scotia, Canada)

Divers spend an hour freeing leatherback sea turtle: It had gotten itself tangled in a mass of fishing nets. Includes pictures and video of the final minute or so.  (Africa)

Canada’s turtle get more help, but also a new disease

Veterinarian adds turtles to her practice: Injured turtles in Collingwood, Ontario now have a place to get treatment before going to rehab. Awesome! 💚

Bad news for Canada’s turtles: Researchers recently confirmed finding a viral disease that kills quickly and has no cure in 2 snapping turtles in Cootes Paradise (Ontario). The disease has already caused devastation in the US, affecting both amphibians & reptiles. But until now, only amphibians in Canada have been affected.

This city is making it easier to save turtles: Would you know what to do if you found a injured turtle in the road? Who to call? Where to take it? Most people don’t. But in Kingston (Ontario, Canada) residents can now take the turtle to one of several holding centers in the city. Then volunteers will make sure it gets care.

Odds & ends

How did a freshwater turtle end up at the beach? Probably someone thought they were doing the turtle a favor. This is a good reminder to make sure you know what kind of turtle you’ve found before relocating it! (And most of the time you don’t want to relocate it anyway). (Western Australia)

Another turtle smuggler caught: Officials were acting on a tip and found the man with 50 black pond turtles. (near Mumbai, India)

Injured pet turtle gets artificial flipper: Poor Toto got attacked by a rat & lost her rear flippers. But her owner loves her so much he found someone to make the artificial flippers. And they’re even trying to make better ones! (India)