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Turtle News Briefs

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Recent turtle news you may have missed.

Sea turtles keep nesting, getting rescued, and going home. Sadly not all tangled turtles find help in time.

Meanwhile nests have started to hatch, but our lights still confuse too many who never make it to the sea.

But turtle lovers keep doing what they can to help, from headstarting babies to becoming accidental turtle rescuers.

Plus more.

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Recent Box Turtle News

Once again we didn’t find any box turtles in the news this week. But we did find this picture, from Garden State Tortoise, of a Gulf Coast boxie having a dip. 💚

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Turtle News Briefs

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Recent turtle news that caught our eyes.

Sad news out of Gulf World, decals promote sea turtle & manatee conservation, and bog turtles love cattle.

Also one little turtle causes a big problem in one Ohio town, head-starting turtles in the Caymans, and poachers just keep trying.

Plus much more.

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Recent Box Turtle News

No new box turtle news this week. Instead enjoy this Yucatan box turtle from the Turtle Room … we’re not sure if it’s happy or ready to bite! Either way, it’s adorable.

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Turtle News Briefs

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Interesting turtle news we found recently.

Turtles of all kinds are still nesting … sadly some people don’t seem to really care. Even when it’s their job to care.

Several sea turtles celebrate their own independence, Kemp’s ridley populations may be recovering, and another state may end commercial turtle harvests.

Also possible hybrid sea turtle hatchlings, more plastic bag bans, and beach cleanups make a difference.

Plus much more.

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Recent Box Turtle News

No boxie news this week, so enjoy this short video of an ornate box turtle nibbling on a juicy strawberry. 💚

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Turtle News Briefs

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Turtle stories that caught our eyes this week.

Happy stories like lifelong friendships with turtles … one of them going on 50 years!

Sad stories like turtles stuck in portable toilets or vandalized nests.

Plus sea turtle releases, revamping construction plans after discovering turtles, launching a new product line because injured turtles upset a child, and more.

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Recent Box Turtle News

More smugglers caught. Will they ever stop?

They tried to carry turtles onto an airplane in pillowcase and plastic bags. The 2 airline workers now face up to 5 years in prison for attempted smuggling of spotted and box turtles.

And this little guy wants to know if it’s safe to come out now:

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Turtle News Briefs

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Interesting turtle news we’ve seen recently.

Sea turtle nesting season marches on, with early nests starting to hatch!

We also found stories on rescuing turtles, tagging turtles, and studying turtles. And they’re not all sea turtles, either. Wood turtles, painted turtles, and others also get some love. And of course the tiny bog turtle get a big honor.

Also 2 people doing their parts to save turtles, from cars & from plastic.

Plus much more.

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Recent Box Turtle News

This week more turtle traffickers caught and facing years in prison. Glad to see the crime being taken seriously. Hopefully the judge/jury will give a serious sentence, not a slap on the wrist.

Box turtle trafficker charged: He violated federal law by trading in Louisiana box turtles. Possible punishments include up to 5 years in prison for each of 4 counts he’s charged with. He’s apparently a state of New Jersey employee.

Box turtles among those trafficked by international smuggling ring: The ringleader faces up to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty to a 2nd trafficking charge. He was on probation for the original charge.

And to try to balance out the sadness & anger over trafficking in box turtles (or any turtles, really), these little cuties (from 2017) should make you smile.

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Turtle News Briefs

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Recent turtle news we found interesting.

Sea turtles are still nesting … One recent nest was huge! Another one hatched. And one mama got a bit turned around.

An alligator snapping turtle had an interesting snack. Another was just a giant! And both had to survive incredible odds to get to this point.

As usual there’s plastic and other trash everywhere. Including in sea turtles … some of the news is good and some is not.

Plus more.

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Recent Box Turtle News

We found multiple boxie stories this week! Although they’re not all happy ones. But protecting turtles is always a welcome story. So are pictures of the elusive spotted box turtle. 💚

Protecting box turtles living under power lines: Boxies (and some other species) apparently like the environment around the power lines. So some power companies like this one train workers to find and move the turtles before mowing or doing other work. On this training day they found a 30-year old boxie carrying eggs. 💚 Includes videos. (Massachusetts)

Why would anyone bejewel a turtle?: Someone did just that to a little box turtle and then apparently let it loose in a marina. Luckily someone found it & un-bejeweled it. What’s worse? At least 2 other turtles have things glued to them, but they evaded capture.

Spotted box turtles in Sonora, Mexico: Almost 2 dozen closeups of this pretty turtle, head, tail, carapace, and plastron! 💚

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Turtle News Briefs

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Recent turtle news we found interesting.

Of course it’s turtle nesting season pretty much everywhere (where it’s summer now, anyway). So sometimes nests pop up in interesting places. Other times Mother Nature is cruel.

Meanwhile humans continue to be a mix of cruel (traffickers) and kind (rescuers & others). But more kind than cruel.

And 2 stories of very helpful canines!

We also found a lonely turtle, a turtle reunion, and even news of a whole new turtle.

Plus more.

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Recent Box Turtle News

Understanding turtles & their habitats is important to protecting them. But it’s hard to study them when you can’t find them. So sometimes you need a little help finding & retrieving them.

“Turtle dogs” help researchers learn about Eastern box turtles: The dogs, Boykin Spaniels, are more commonly used as bird dogs. But their retrieving abilities work just as well on turtles! They track a turtle’s scent & carefully carry the animal back to researchers who document each animal & add trackers to many. (Ohio)

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Turtle News Briefs

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Recent turtle news you may have missed.

Rescuing turtles from roadways & markets.

Sending baby turtles into the world.

Also researching turtles, reporting turtle sightings, and learning a new language to be more effective at helping the turtles.

Plus much more.

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Recent Box Turtle News

We didn’t find any box turtle news this week.

Instead, enjoy this curious three-toed boxie.

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Turtle News Briefs

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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.

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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)

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Turtle News Briefs

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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.

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