Posted on: 2018-05-18 10:30:54
🐢
Recent turtle news we found interesting.
Tracking box turtles in Massachusetts, a turtle adoption event in California, and New Jersey gets closer to having a state reptile.
Also there’s a new sea turtle hospital, a new procedure helps increase release rates, and an ambitious young man picks up rubbish to help protect the turtles … and encourages everyone else to do the same.
Plus much more.
🐢
Recent Box Turtle News
We have a couple of “boxies out ‘n about” kinda stories.
In Massachusetts you can learn how to track ‘em. And in Pennsylvania they’ve already tracked ‘em … at least well enough to know where they like to cross the road.
Help track box turtles: If you’re near the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (South Wellfleet, MA), plan head over there on Sunday (May 20). You’ll learn how to track box turtles. And then go do some real tracking! The Sanctuary does require pre-registration for this.
It’s a box turtle crossing: No, really. There’s signs & everything! Although the signs just say “🐢 crossing,” their purpose is to warn drivers about box turtles in the road. 💚 (Pennsylvania)
Recent U. S. Turtle News
There’s a couple of turtle events tomorrow … if you happen to live near one, check it out.
We also found sea turtle rescues, releases, and nesting … which shouldn’t be surprising since it’s sea turtle season once again!
Also, studying turtle health may be able to tell us where we’re harming the environment. Plus more.
Happenings this weekend
It’s Turtle Time in Fort Wayne, Indiana tomorrow: More specifically, it’s the Urban Turtle Festival, complete with a turtle costume contest and a 5K. But don’t worry about your running shoes; this 5K is a walk. Because it’s for the turtles! If you’re in the area, check it out. Admission to the festival is free. The walk is a fundraiser & so has an entry fee.
It’s a turtle-centric Clear the Shelters event: It’s happening in Woodland Hills, California tomorrow. The California Turtle and Tortoise Club Valley Chapter is holding the adoption event to find some good homes for the turtles, and also to raise awareness of the threats turtles face in the wild.
Studying turtles
Wisconsin wants to know where turtles are crossing roads: And they’re asking you to report any you see.
Are turtles the new “canary in the coal mine”? Apparently turtle health can both mirror human health and show where the environment may be in trouble.
The Endangered Species Act works! A new study looked at the 23 marine mammal species protected under the Act and concluded most of them are recovering. 💚 Of course, they still need protection to keep the recovery going.
Sea turtles
Rhaegal and Coral head home: The two sea turtles (a loggerhead & a Kemp’s ridley) were the South Carolina Aquarium’s 1st releases for 2018. Includes pictures & video.
Boats & sea turtles can coexist: Too often when boats & sea turtles meet along the east coast the turtles lose. This time people on the boat not only saw the turtle, they saw it needed help. And then they called for help. Includes pictures. 💚 (North Carolina)
Sea turtles begin nesting at Surfside beach in Texas: The area’s 1st nests of the season showed up May 11. Sea Turtle Patrol volunteers collected the eggs to incubate at a safe location. Includes pictures & video.
North Texas now has its very own sea turtle rescue hospital: And visitors can watch some of the treatments. There’s also an interactive exhibit for visitors to “rescue” virtual turtles and a display with non-releaseable turtles to visit with.
Miscellaneous turtle stories
The bog turtle is one step closer to being New Jersey’s official reptile: The Assembly Environment and solid Waste Committee recently advanced the bill to make it so.
Would you eat diamondback terrapin? Apparently 100+ years ago these pretty little creatures were ridiculously popular and insanely expensive menu items. And that’s apparently a big part of why they’re endangered today.
Recent International Turtle News
We’re a bit light on international stories this week. What we did find is a mix of sad, happy, and inspirational stories.
Please watch out for turtles while out on your boat: Coral World staff rescued a green sea turtle with a cracked shell & severed spinal cord, probably from a boat strike a week or so earlier. The injuries were so bad they made the hard decision to euthanize it. (Virgin Islands)
One simple step increases turtle release rates: At the Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre all new patients now go on a drip as soon as they arrive. Since starting this, the Centre’s release rate has gone from 70% to 90%. Awesome!
Be like Thomas: This 8-year-old spends hours of his time picking up rubbish around his village. And he’s started a Rubbish Club to encourage others to do the same. Why? He doesn’t want all that trash ending up in the oceans where it can hurt his favorite animals, the turtles. His club even has a Facebook page, which his mom manages.
Chill the snapping turtle is back home: Do you remember Chill? We shared his story back in March after he’d gotten himself frozen half in & half out of a lake. The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre nursed him back to health. And earlier this week staff brought him back to his lake.
Turtle with possible cigarette burns rescued: It had apparently wandered into someone’s garden, and that kind person called for help. The yellow-bellied slider now has a safe home with a reptile rescue.
A generous grant will help turtles along the Thames River: The money will help improve incubation & releases, data collection, and more. (Ontario, Canada)