Posted on: 2017-06-21 09:30:37
🐢 Have you seen these recent turtle stories?
Recent Box Turtle News
Two box turtle stories worth repeating:
Studying Box Turtles: Scientists in Aiken, SC have been tracking and studying box turtles for almost 30 years. One old guy (turtle, not researcher!) has lived in the same backyard for most of that time!
Two box turtles rescued from dark closet: They and 11 other animals had been mostly abandoned at a Nature Center. 😢 (California)
Recent U. S. Turtle News
A few U.S.-based stories worth repeating:
- Help elect the Bog turtle New Jersey’s state reptile!: Supporters from around the world have been signing the petition. Add your name!
- 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.
- He may lose his sight for protecting a turtle: Daytona man was attacked in February after asking 3 men to stop torturing a turtle. They beat him so badly he’s still suffering the effects.
- Reserve your Turtle Watch spot for July: Your chance to see a loggerhead sea turtle nesting on Playalinda Beach or Apollo Beach. (Florida)
- New whale and sea turtle protections scrapped: Politics aside, how can anyone support fewer protections for these vulnerable animals?
Good news for some sea turtle populations and bad news for others. Welcome news about turtle beating. Plus a bit of fun with Jimmy Fallon and Robert Irwin.
Algae and turtle health: Researchers are studying turtles to learn more about how toxic algae affect them. And hopefully learn how it affects other wildlife and humans too.
More sea turtles than expected in U.S. Virgin Islands : Apparently it’s a hangout for juveniles! 😍
Jimmy Fallon tries to hold a turtle: He doesn’t like it! Clip has Robert Irwin (son of the late Steve Irwin) showing off a variety of animals.
TLC for hooked turtles: The Pier Partner Program around Virginia Beach works to educate fishing enthusiasts to get medical help for a hooked turtle. The program has rescued 105 turtles since 2014.
Turtles of Pennsylvania: They include the Eastern Box Turtle, mud turtles, and at least one spiny softshell, among others.
10 years of saving sea turtles: The Georgia Sea Turtle Center also helps other kinds of turtles, along with birds, snakes, and even some mammals.
Sea turtle eggs cook on the beach: They need heat to hatch, of course. But too much heat kills the embryo before it can develop. Or the babies die shortly after hatching. ☹️
Charges for attacking a turtle: You may have seen a Facebook video showing at least 2 teenagers beating a snapping turtle. 😡 Officials were initially unsure of the teen’s identity and cautioned that identifying all those involved may not be possible (only one person was visible in the video). They have now charged one teen in the attack.
Recent International Turtle News
Three stories about turtle protection campaigns worth repeating:
- Spreading the word about the dangers of plastic to marine life: ‘Plastic Free Boy’ has a mission to protect the turtles. He’s making a difference. And a film.
- One community’s solution for protecting turtles crossing the road: Turtle tunnels! And fencing to encourage them to use their new “crosswalks.” You can find a more detailed story here.
- Bri Bri the Turtle Guy’s slow & steady campaign to protect Ontario’s turtles: He personally patrols roadways to find turtles needing help. And he teaches others how to protect turtles and the environment.
More conservation efforts, including slow but welcome progress for a critically endangered turtle species.
Community protects threatened turtle nests: Love seeing entire communities working together to protect some of their most vulnerable residents. (Australia)
Snapping turtle nests in the park: Apparently she checked things out one day and came back the next morning to lay her eggs. (Ontario)
Turtles trying to escape high water levels: Even aquatic turtles need dry spots to sun themselves and lay eggs. And they’re traveling farther to find good spots. Unfortunately, that often means crossing roads, so one area man made signs for a nearby roadway. (British Columbia)
Caymen Turtle Centre worries about plastic: The Centre has a program to bury green sea turtle eggs on the beach so they can hatch and head out to sea. But the managing director of the Centre and others worry about plastic pollution affecting the hatchlings’ survival rate.
Good news for Burmese roofed turtles: The critically endangered species has 39 new members. They will spend a few years growing up before being released into the wild.