DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club

Reptile Fest 2009 Thank you

2009-11-30T08:27:00.000-08:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We are presenting again at the Reptile Fest 2009 - Dallas Museum of Nature & Science

2009-11-01T10:17:00.000-08:00

Saturday, November 7, 10am - 5pm & Sunday, November 8, 12pm - 5pm
A weekend of reptile and amphibian fun!

The reptiles are back! Rumor on the street is they had so much fun last year that they couldn’t wait to return for more — this time with their amphibian friends! At the Museum of Nature & Science, we think these slithery, hopping creatures are so fascinating they need their own weekend to shine.

While some people may not find them as cuddly as other animals, reptiles and amphibians are nothing to fear. Through fascinating presentations by Wildlife on the Move, you can see up close and personal for yourself just how cool these guys are! Plus, with interactive presentations by Save the Frogs, Heard Museum, Dallas Zoo, DFW Herpetological Society and DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club, you’ll also enjoy close encounters with all sorts of frogs, toads, newts, lizards, snakes and salamanders.

And if that wasn’t enough, we’ll round out the weekend with engaging activities and hands-on crafts. So whether you crawl, slither, or hop on over, join us at MNS for Reptile Fest 2009. It’s sure to be a ribbiting great time!

3535 Grand Avenue and 1318 S. 2nd Avenue in Fair Park Phone: 214-428-5555

Turtle Spring = I found a turtle, what do I do?!

2009-05-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

And spring is here! Yay, we are over the murky winter! Hopefully all turtles (and other creatures) successfully hibernated and now are ready for another wonderful year of adventurous life of searching for a mate, reproducing and hatching the next generation of chelonians.

Spring is a busy and challenging season for turtles and tortoises. After turtles emerge from hibernation they are on the quest of filling their bellies and finding a mate to reproduce. Some turtles can be woken up early or even evicted from their spot by eager humans spring cleaning their properties from shrubs and leaves – a turtle's favored spots to safely overwinter.
If such a thing happens and you find a turtle on your property, and you live on a nice natural property with shrubs, trees, and a creek nearby and away from busy streets, you can probably leave the turtle where you found it. Keep your dogs away from the yard for a day or two so the turtle can find a safe retreat.

If you found the turtle at a spot that you think is unsafe, or you are not sure what to do, you can contact us DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club or any other turtle club or herpetological society in your area for further advice or assistance. You can reach the DFW Herpetological Society at: contact@dfwherp.org or (972) 949-4191. Or if you are near Houston area contact Gulf Coast Turtle & Tortoise Society www.gctts.org .
The best thing is to take pictures of the turtle and possibly the area for easy identification. Most cell phones have a camera now and you can text MMS the photos to our email DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club. You can also visit www.texasturtles.org to try to identify the turtle.

The usual situation when people encounter turtles is on the roads, especially during a rainy and cloudy day. That's the time when turtles travel to find a better location, mates, or the best spot to lay eggs. Females can travel considerable distances to find the perfect spot and that includes crossing busy roads and highways. Most road-killed turtles are female. One study says that some turtles like the sandy banks of the road for its loose sandy soil with sunny warmth promising stable temperatures for incubating the eggs. This could help explain the larger number of females found on the roads.

What to do when you find a turtle like this? The best thing is to move the turtle off the road and point it in the direction they were heading. Turtles are very determined about where they want to go, so putting them back in the other direction is not a good idea, even if that direction looks better to you. It only gives them another chance to get hit by a car when they turn around to go where they were going in the first place. If you find the turtle on a busy highway and you wonder where it could possibly come from my conclusion is that the turtle may have come through culverts under the road.

I think that was the case with this turtle we came across a couple of days ago on I-35 by Lake Dallas.
It was a male with the long Freddy-Kreuger-like front nails and long tail. I believe he was a painted turtle (not the usual red eared slider) as the nice reddish color of his shell was peeking from under the mud and algae that covered him. There was a fence along the grass and highway as you can see on the other side. He was sitting on this mini parking spot totally perplexed (at least I think) :-) . I couldn't find a good place to put him and I left my rescue plastic box at home of course. Luckily I had a paper bag so I put him there and we drove around to find the nearest access to the lake. I had to wake my daughter up; she would never forgive me if I didn't, and we went to release the guy into the lake. It was very happy moment. He didn't even hesitate to say thanks.

That day turned out to be quite a turtle day. While driving down the road I saw another familiar shape in the middle of the neighborhood road. This time it was a Common snapping turtle. And by a quick look I could tell it was a guy. There was a little creek at the side of the road flowing in and out of the concrete duct. He was sitting in the middle of the road facing the direction of the cars. The road had a green belt in between and further on the other side was a neighborhood pond with a fountain. That was the best bet for safe release. The snapping turtles seem to me to be lot less skittish then the sliders. But don't let this fool ya. They can extend their neck back quite far and deliver a powerful bite. The safest handling of a small one is to hold it by the back of the shell, with your hands above the back legs, grabbing the back edge of the top shell. NEVER HOLD TURTLE BY ITS TAIL! This can dislocate their vertebrae and cause fatal injury. If the turtle is too large or you are not sure, use a stick to push the turtle off the road (but do not push the soft body, hold the stick vertical and just lean at the edge of the shell near the tail, like sweeping the turtle forward).

The saddest moment is always when we encounter an injured or even dead turtle. Though even with an injured turtle, you have several options you can do to help. Pick up the injured turtle and place it in a box where it cannot slide side to site to sustain further injuries. It is best is to take the turtle to a wildlife rehabilitator. You can check here for list of wildlife rehabilitators:

Wildlife Rehabilitators by County

Or you can call 214-368-5911 www.911wildlife.com or check http://www.911wildlife.com/relatedLinks.html . There is always someone on the line who can help to find the rehabber closest to you. Or you can take the turtle to the nearest veterinarian's office and ask if they are licensed and willing to take wildlife.

The only people or organizations who may be able to come pick up the turtle if you call them are volunteers. All their expenses are paid from their own pockets, so I encourage you to give a donation - it is always nice and welcomed. Care and vet bills can get expensive.

Last but not least I would like to point out that when you try to save any animal, try not to put your life in danger. Stopping suddenly on the busy road or running out of your car without looking first for other cars can be fatal. Also make sure when you have children in your car that they are buckled up and remain seated and in the car before you can safely get to the animals. Yes there was a case of a little girl unbuckling herself and getting out of the car before the parent got to her and she was killed instantly when she ran into a highway to save a turtle. Many cars have a child locks on the door that have to be released by the driver before any door can open.

Enjoy turtles in wild and leave them in wild. If you are already guardian of a turtle or two take care of them well.

Thanks for reading. :-)

Barbara D.

Barbara Dillard is founder of DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club, Member of DFW Herpetological Society, Member of World Chelonian Trust, DFW Wildlife Coalition, Wildcare, and partner of BTPT

edited by Michael Smith

Club's Get together this Saturday 2/7/09 in Arlington

2009-02-06T08:21:00.000-08:00

We are going to hang out at the NARBC Expo in Arlington's Convention's Center this Saturday February 7th, 2009.
>The North American Reptile Breeders Conference and Trade Show is open Saturday, February 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, February 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arlington Convention Center at 1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington, Texas 76011.<

Then we'll meet for a turtle chat at local restaurant Nizza Pizza at 5 15pm after the expo is done.
1430 S. Cooper(@Park Row) Arlington, TX 76013

See you there

Your Turtlely Valentine 2009 :-)

2009-01-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays 2008

2008-12-09T15:15:00.001-08:00

DFWTTC @ Dallas Museum of Nature & Science - Thank You

2008-11-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for coming to this year's Reptile Fest.
It was fun.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Reptile Fest 2008 @ Dallas Museum of Nature & Science

2008-11-02T19:25:00.000-08:00

The Reptile Fest is Back! Come and visit our table at this fun event at Dallas Museum of Nature & Science in Fair Park. Email us for coupon for $2 off admission.

See Why It’s Cool to be Cold-Blooded.

They share space with us on every continent except Antarctica. They have scales instead of feathers or hair. They breathe air just like us, but they don’t have an internal heating and cooling system. Who are they? They’re reptiles! And at the MNS we think they’re so amazing they deserve their own special event—an entire weekend of spectacularly creepy, crawly, slithery fun with interactive presentations and hands-on activities presented by local experts.

Explore the cool, cold-blooded world of snakes, lizards, turtles, and other reptiles. Touch incredible critters from Texas and around the world. Find out if it’s boa or python, turtle or tortoise, venomous or not. Play a game of reptile hide and seek. Make your own lizard marionette and more!

It’s your chance to learn to love reptiles and leave with a greater understanding and appreciation of how to make sure they’re a part of our lives for millions more years.

When:
Saturday, November 8, 10-5pm
Sunday, November 9, noon-5pm

Where:
MNS Fair Park Campus: Science Building (1318 South Second Avenue) and Nature Building (3535 Grand Avenue)

Cost:
Admission to Reptile Fest is free to MNS members and is included in the general admission price for non-members.

Red Eared Sliders and Environment

2008-08-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Save A Species, Save The Environment

By Lori Green
Director, Turtle Homes Rescue
www.turtlehomes.org

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/602341814

Trachemys scripta is the fancy name for Red Eared Slider.

If you were born before 1975 you may remember small turtles sold in dime stores around the country.

These turtles were placed in plastic bowls that had a small island and a plastic palm tree. You fed them dried ants and they lived about a week if you were lucky.

In 1975 the Federal Government recognized the dangers these turtles possessed. Children would often handle them, place them in their mouths and contracted salmonella, an intestinal bacteria that causes severe diarrhea, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. In severe cases even death. It became illegal for people to purchase these turtles or any turtle under 4 inches. This posed a devastating blow to the turtle farms that produced them.

Even the 4 inch law did stop them from being sold and today stores such as Petco sell them to the public, who often have no idea what they are getting themselves into. There has been a lot of improvement since 1975. Death bowls are a thing of the past. We now know that all turtles and tortoises process calcium with the help of UVB.

This is light generated by some light bulbs, but the best source is the sun.

There has been huge improvements made in nutrition for these animals as well.

Commercially prepared pellets make up most of the captive slider's diets. Although it is always best to provide them with a more natural diet of fish, bugs, crustaceans, fresh green and snails. By providing a clean environment, which consists of filtered water, varied diet, calcium and UVB, you can expect to have a healthy animal. This is where things go wrong.

You start out purchasing a small turtle that swims happily in a 20 gallon fish tank. The turtle is young. If all goes right you can expect your turtle to grow and they do rapidly. Females can reach up to 14 inches. This means you will need a much larger setup. The water provided should not be less than 350 gallons. This means your putting a swimming pool in your living room or you need to build it a pond.

Along with it's rapidly growing exterior comes rapidly expanding excrement. In other words, poop. Small commercial filters are made for fish waste and you will soon discover the smell of the tank becomes offending quite rapidly and often the water turns yellow. They never told you this in the pet store.

I am also sorry to say your turtle will never love you.

No matter the species you choose, no matter if it was captive bred or if it has lived in your home for 20 years, it will always choose freedom over you. It is you that will give all the love.

Turtles, especially Red Eared Sliders, bite and they bite hard. They are completely inappropriate pets for small children. They will never enjoy being handled. They will never allow you to play like you can with a dog, cat or bird. They are wild by nature and you can't take the nature out of the turtle.

Given all these facts it is no wonder they end up in animal rescues daily. Most animal rescues do not take in turtles. If they do it is because the agent you are speaking to knows of a specialty rescue that deals only in turtles and tortoises. Specialty rescues that handle reptiles are over run with sliders. We recognize the needs of the animal and most will not place them unless the person owns a pond.

A pond, a turtle, no problem. You can go down to the nearest waterway and know your turtle will be happy. You couldn't be any more wrong. Native turtles live in population areas. When you release your turtle you risk infecting the native animals with any parasite, bacteria or even aggression your turtle brings with it. Your turtle will compete for food, interbreed with the native animals and infect them. Whole populations of wild species have been wiped out of areas due to the release of Red Eared Sliders. Over time the native turtles will be replaced. This is a problem that has happened all over the world. It is illegal to own or possess a Red Eared Slider in Israel due to people releasing them and infecting the native pond turtles there. Instead they euthanize what they seize.

We urge you to think before bringing one of these animals into your home. Will you be able to keep it 40 or more years? Yes, that is the life expectancy of a slider if kept properly. Do you own a securely fenced in pond? Do you live in an area with mild enough winters that the turtle can hibernate safely and not risk the entire pond freezing. These are only some of the questions you need to ask yourself before you bring one into your life. Are your children getting older and will loose interest in taking care of the turtle? Are you at a point in your life when you want to travel? Are you in your child bearing years and will be bringing in a newborn baby. Are you willing to risk salmonella? We only ask you to think before you act.

If you would like to help stop the release of these animals into your area waterways please sign our petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/602341814

By Lori Green
Director, Turtle Homes Rescue
www.turtlehomes.org

Inspiring Story - Missouri City, TX rescue mission

2008-06-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

Great and Inspiring Story from Houston Chronicle.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/fortbend/news/5856420.html

Here is to view the photo gallery taken by Penny Barrett Hornsby - The person behind this amazing effort. Congratulations to Penny!

June 25, 2008, 5:42PM
Missouri City rescue mission called a success
Volunteers relocate turtles, other reptiles from abandoned golf course

By KAREN HASTINGS
Chronicle Correspondent

Muddy, scratched and bitten - but now happy - a group of reptile-lovers is celebrating the rescue of nearly 100 turtles from the path of bulldozers at a new Missouri City commercial park.

Some four dozen volunteers worked more than three weeks last month to catch and relocate reptiles, fish and other creatures from abandoned golf course ponds at the old Willowisp Country Club. Trammell Crow is redeveloping the 168-acre property at the corner of Fondren Road and Buffalo Run as Lakeview Business Park.

The rescue was launched by a Missouri City employee who couldn’t stand to see the creatures stranded. By the time the effort was over, it had involved not only the city’s Public Works department, but police, parks workers and a half-dozen wildlife groups as well.

“I really had no idea it would mushroom the way it did,’’ said Penny Hornsby, a spatial data analyst with Missouri City’s Public Works Department. “I was so in awe of these people - their passion was so great. It gave you a great feeling to know you were doing something to help.’’

Property developers gave volunteers two weeks for their rescue mission. Volunteers waded through half-drained ponds with nets and their bare hands, rounding up turtles and fish into plastic tubs, and releasing them to nearby waterways. Sean Nolan, senior development manager for Trammell Crow, said the company was happy to help, once the city called about the stranded turtles. “We do have a corporate mission to exercise environmental stewardship,’’ Nolan said. “Basically, our role here was just being cooperative.’’ Volunteers logged at least seven turtle species, 22 alligator gar up to 2 feet long, and some 26 non-native plecostomous sucker fish up to 18 inches. The fish, possibly pet shop rejects, could not be released in the wild and ended up in a private pond. At one point, Missouri City police stopped traffic on nearby Buffalo Run, as a “mass exodus’’ of turtles staged their own relocation across that road to the lakes of Buffalo Run Park. Rounding up the stragglers from ankle- and knee-deep pond muck at the old golf course was a messy job.

“You were basically crawling around in mud, getting bitten by fire ants and scratched by pine cones,’’ said Gina Disteldorf, a Spring Branch high school biology teacher. “I was just completely filthy, basically from under my arms on down. I had mud in places there shouldn’t have been mud.’’ Hornsby said she first noticed the reptiles in early May during a picnic lunch at Buffalo Run Park. A construction inspector saw her rescue a turtle that was crossing the road and mentioned that other creatures were in danger as Lakeview development progressed and the old ponds were bulldozed. “Of course this upset me,’’ said Hornsby, who describes herself as “a huge animal lover’’ with five dogs. “I just think it’s important to not only have the environment, but also the little creatures that live there.’’

After Missouri City Public Works Director Scott Elmer secured permission from Trammell Crow, Hornsby and helpers made wire traps, baited them with chicken legs, and placed them around the old county club’s 10 or so interconnected ponds. Over the course of several weeks, they made twice-daily visits to check those traps and relocate whatever they caught. A member of Hornsby’s vegan group with whom she’d been sharing the turtles’ plight offered to post her request for help with a local turtle organization. When Disteldorf, a Gulf Coast Turtle and Tortoise Society member, read that distress call, she forwarded it to the Houston Turtlers, the Texas Area Reptile Enthusiasts, the East Texas Herpetological Society and the Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition. Over one weekend in May, 17 people one day and 12 the next showed up to help. Volunteers - adults and children - returned the next weekend. All total, they plucked 92 turtles from the ponds, including cooters, red- and yellow-eared sliders, common and alligator snapping turtles and softshell and musk turtles. “It was mind-blowing how into turtles and how up to their armpits in that muck those people were,’’ Hornsby said. “They didn’t care how filthy the water was. They just started getting in there and pulling the animals out.’’

Volunteers were impressed by the developer’s and construction workers’ willingness to cooperate. “This developer was super awesome and gave us a time frame to do what we could,’’ said Disteldorf. “Most developers don’t want anybody on the property. This one was super about letting us go in and work.’’ On one day, workers with a backhoe joined in, she said. “One of their guys got inside the bucket and used one of the nets to catch stuff. That was pretty cool.’’ Hornsby was also touched when one of the burly construction workers, Sidney Oliver, an earthwork contractor for Trammel Crow, brought her a box containing a mother duck and 11 newly hatched ducklings he had been guarding. The feathered family found a new home at a city park. “It was really sweet because he was so gentle and kind,’’ Hornsby said.

Hornsby thanked her Missouri City Public Works co-workers for helping, and her bosses for allowing her time to check turtle traps during the work week. She was amazed by the interest from so many different groups. “We were thinking, `We’re only city employees. We’re only a few people.’ “But once you realize there are groups out there, that this is their passion, all you have to do is make a call.’’

As for the volunteers, they had fun in the mud. “There was a lot of camaraderie,’’ Disteldorf said. “You’re rescuing things, and it makes you feel good.’’

neighborhoods@chron.com

Celebrate World Turtle Day - May 23, 2008

2008-05-23T06:54:00.000-07:00

May is a busy month for turtles. Turtles wake up from hibernation and it's time for mating, migrating, nesting, and babies. Therefore in 2000, May 23 was designated World Turtle Day.

Spring and early summer is a time of turtle nesting and babies. You can see turtles walking on the road or turtle hatchlings around local ponds and creeks. However cute they look and no matter how much your child wants to pick them up and take them home it’s not a good idea.

Turtles—sea, freshwater, or terrestrial—are the favorite animals of many people. These attractive creatures continue to beat incredible odds to survive in today’s world of increasing pet and food trade, pollution and shrinking habitat. Please, read some suggestions on how you can help those beautiful and important little creatures, which have been part of our ecosystem for a long, long time on our website:
10 Things to Do for Turtles
http://dfwturtletortoiseclub.blogspot.com/2007/08/10-things-to-do-for-turtles.html

DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club is volunteer based and thrives on donations.
We provide great community for local turtle enthusiasts and people interested in turtles and tortoises. We educate public, provide consultations about captive care and wildlife rescue in cooperation with other wildlife and turtle organizations. We also offer educational presentations for schools, museums, and youth groups. Feel free to contact us for more information.

There are different ways to donate:
You can purchase fun T-shirts and other items at
www.petisnotarock.com
Or you can send donation through our website
www.dfwttc.org
or directly via www.paypal.com to
petisnotarock@yahoo.com

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Barbara Dillard
Director of the DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club
www.dfwttc.org
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DFWTurtleandTortoiseClub/

Support Our Turtle Club
www.petisnotarock.com
Get Your Turtle Club T-shirts & Celebrate World Turtle day

Get together at the NARBC in Arlington - change!

2008-02-20T08:28:00.000-08:00

We are still planning to meet at the The North American Reptile Breeders Conference & Trade Show Sunday February 24 afternoon.
Later we'll have a casual meeting and meal after the show on
SUNDAY February 24 at 4 15 pm at Nizza Pizza on Cooper St., 1st light south of UTA on the right.
The advantage is, that the show is shorter so we do not have to meet too late AND at the last day there will be great bargains for all the supplements, food, and equipment as most vendors do not want to cary it all back! :-)

It is open to the public Saturday, February 23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
and Sunday, February 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arlington
Convention Center, 1200 Ballpark Way in Arlington, Texas.

Weekend passes to the Show are $15 for adults; children under 13 are
$8, while children ages 5 and under are admitted free.
More info at:
www.narbc.com

PLEASE, let me know if you are coming to Nizza so we can give them a
head count ahead.
Thanks and see you this weekend and you can wear our T-shirts to
promote our club and we can recognize each other. :-) Links to the
shops are bellow.

Barbara
RSVP : urbanveggie@yahoo.com
DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club
www.dfwttc.org
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DFWTurtleandTortoiseClub/
- - -
Support Our Turtle Club
www.veggiechild.com & www.petisnotarock.com
NEW 'Turtle Princess Design' & Get Your Turtle Club T-shirts

Turtles in a perilous time!

2008-01-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

Turtles have been on this Earth for well over 200 million years and have even survived through the time of the dinosaurs. Today however, the turtle is facing a grim future. Around 70% of the world's turtle species are now listed on The World Conservation Union's Redlist of threatened species. For some turtles though it is already too late. Several turtle species have already gone extinct.

For many people the term endangered species conjures up images of exotic animals far from home. However, the turtles current state of peril can be seen all across the globe. This is both a despairing and unsettling fact as the turtles current state of peril is almost completely due to the actions of people! There are several different factors contributing to the endangerment of the world's turtles.

The Blanding's Turtle is a species in decline throughout much of it's range.

The biggest issue affecting turtles today is the loss or fragmentation of their natural habitat. Turtles habitats of all kinds are being degraded and destroyed at an alarming rate. Wetlands are drained, forests are destroyed and waterfronts are developed. Turtles are literally losing their homes. The loss of habitat and the increase of human activities and recreation on the water and on beaches also affects turtles and their nests in a negative way. Waterfront developments restrict turtles from prime basking and nesting sites. Containments and sewage run off from such developments can also cause harm to turtles. Pesticides, oils, chemicals, and industrial pollution may contaminate the habitats of turtles and their local prey items. When the turtles eat contaminated prey, they may become poisoned and die. These developments may also cause water levels to rise which can drown nest sites destroying turtle eggs. Recreational activities on the water can also have devastating affects on turtles, such as being killed or severely injured when they are hit by boats or water vehicles. Fishermen will often kill turtles for fear of the turtles preying on game fish. Driving on beaches with cars and four wheelers can destroy nests land in the sand.

Pristine turtle habitats are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Where good habitat does exist it is often altered by roads and highways. This leads to the death of countless turtles on roads. Legions of turtles must cross roads when looking for nest sites to lay their eggs. This is particularly detrimental to turtle populations because not only does it lead to the death of a large portion of the breeding population, the female turtles, but the next generation of turtles is also killed off when the eggs are destroyed. This can lead to local populations of turtle species becoming exterminated . Even if the female turtles do successfully find nesting spots and lay their eggs, the baby turtles only have a 1% chance of reaching maturity. Nests are often destroyed by predators like raccoons and skunks. While human activities have negative effects on turtles, they have helped increased these such turtle predators. The increase in human waste provides an unlimited food source for these predators. This has caused their populations to grow. This surplus of predators takes a very heavy toll on turtle nests.

Turtles, including rare and endangered ones, also suffer from being harvested from the wild at an almost unfathomable rate. Turtles and their eggs are collected for the pet trade, food markets or to be used in traditional medicines. Sometimes the turtles and their eggs are captured right off nesting sites.

Snapping Turtles are often the victims of direct killings by people.

Certain turtles, especially the snapping turtles, are the victims of direct killings by people. Many people believe snapping turtles are dangerous to swimmers and will kill them on site. In truth, snapping turtles are not dangerous if left alone. If stepped on underwater the turtle will merely withdraw its head, and if encountered by a swimmer, the turtle will flee the area. Witnesses have observed people shooting turtles for ''sport'' and studies have shown that many times people will purposely hit turtles they encounter on roads.

When all the factors above are combined, it accounts for a massive amount of turtles being lost. It is hard to come up with exact figures for each issue because a lot of the time not enough research has been done, and it is even harder to monitor the effects of certain issues like illegal collecting and direct persecution. What is known is that turtle species are dwindling and it is largely due to our actions. If we do not take the time to take better care of our natural resources and to reverse our detrimental actions towards turtles, we could lose one of our oldest and successful creatures. If this happens what hope do other species really have?

Written by
Matt Ellerbeck - Turtle Conservationist
Http://www.turtleconservationist.co.nr

DFWTTC @ Dallas Museum of Nature & Science - Thank You

2007-09-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

Our 1st event in Dallas Museum of Nature & Science this past weekend turned out great and we had lots of visitors, handed out many care sheets and I have heard many interesting questions and statements about turtles I'll share later when I will remember. :-)

I would like to thank to Glenn and Judy for taking their time and animals to the event.
Glenn's 90 lb baby Sulcata Dozer was a huge success. Kids were following him all over the place. One of the amusing questions about Dozer was: "Is that a snapping turtle?"

Judy brought her 30 gal tank with 3 RES from baby to almost fully
grown female. It drawn quite a bit attention since people did not want
to believe how much their tiny slider will grow in just 3 years.

One of my pet peeve answers to -- what kind of turtle do you have? -- was -- I don't know. !!!!!! I almost fainted when I heard it and not only once.

Thank you again and I hope to do another event soon. It's really fun to see the kids happy and excited seeing so many kinds of turtles and trying to learn about them.

Barbara

DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club
www.dfwttc.org
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DFWTurtleandTortoiseClub/

www.veggiechild.com * www.petisnotarock.com
Wear Your Attitude and Support Your Turtle Club
www.urbanveggie.com
New vegan recipes

Reptile Fest at Dallas Museum of Nature & Science

2007-09-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

Come see us at the Museum of Nature & Science event.

at your new Museum of Nature & Science is a weekend full of REPTILE discovery! Bring your family and friends and join MNS for a weekend full of REPTILE demonstrations, hands-on activities, crafts and shows.

At you can get to know more about the lizards that live in your own backyard, visit an interactive reptile show, make a snake hat, talk to a real herpetologist, touch and feel a banded Milk Snake and spend some time getting to know your cold-blooded friends!

WHERE:
MNS Fair Park Campus: Science Building (1318 South Second Avenue), Nature Building (3535 Grand Avenue) and Planetarium (1620 First Avenue)

WHEN:
September 8, 2007 10am-5pm
September 9, 2007 noon-5pm

COST: Admission to Reptile Fest is free to MNS members and included in the general admission cost to non-members. Not a member? Join now! Call 972-201-0602.

More info :

http://www.natureandscience.org/calendar/upcoming_events.asp

Directions to the Museum:

http://www.natureandscience.org/information/directions.asp

See you there

10 Things to Do for Turtles

2007-08-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

10 Things to Do for Turtles

by Barbara Dillard

Spring and early summer is a time of turtle nesting and babies. You can see turtles walking on the road or turtle hatchlings around local ponds and creeks. However cute they look and no matter how much your child wants to pick them up and take them home it’s not a good idea.

Turtles—sea, freshwater, or terrestrial—are the favorite animals of many people. These attractive creatures continue to beat incredible odds to survive in today’s world of increasing pet and food trade, pollution and shrinking habitat. Here are some suggestions on how you can help those beautiful and important little creatures, which have been part of our ecosystem for a long, long time:

1. Give Turtles a Brake. First, be safe and don’t have an accident; then if possible avoid hitting the turtle. If you can safely stop and you want to do so, move the turtle off the road in the direction in which it was going. If the turtle is a large one, or a snapping turtle, use a stick to nudge him gently across the road without getting too close. Do not pick up a turtle by its tail, as it can cause dislocation of the turtle’s spine.

2. Protect Turtle habitat. Support your local turtle conservation programs. Report any abuse, poaching (of sea turtles, her eggs or hatchlings for example), or any other of your concerns to a local legal agency like Texas Parks & Wildlife department. These activities are violations of U.S. state and federal laws.

3. Don’t take turtles out of the wild. A game warden will fine you if you get caught. Turtles take up to 10 years before reaching sexual maturity to reproduce. Taking a turtle out of the wild will cause great harm to the future population of turtles. When the population is thinned beyond a certain point, adults are unlikely to find each other for mating. Many turtle species lays relatively few eggs and the hatchlings are very vulnerable during their first years to predation. This means not enough turtles can be produced for the population to survive and the population becomes reproductively dead.

4. Enjoy Turtles in the Wild. Never keep wild turtles as pets or buy them from a pet store. The trade in reptiles as pets is responsible for tremendous animal suffering and serious damage to turtle populations. Learn to enjoy turtles by observing them in their natural habitat, where they belong. If turtles live in your yard, why not keep them happy by building a pond and by landscaping with plants that provide protection and food? Edible plants for turtles include tropical hibiscus, dandelion, geraniums, and Chinese lantern. (Make sure that your plants are free of pesticide and herbicide residue.) Piles of leaves, vines, and downed trees make perfect turtle hiding places.

5. Don't release turtles back in wild. Think twice before buy turtle as a pet. Turtles can live 40, 60 even hundred years. They can grow large and need lots of space to roam or/and swim. This is the number one reason of turtles being released back in wild. Turtles kept in captivity for a while often lose the need for hunting since they have been fed and they will not be able to survive in the wild. An even bigger problem can develop, that is releasing the turtle, even in its potentially native habitat, will affect biodiversity of the pond or lake you release it in. Introduction of parasites and illnesses can wipe out entire fish or other local fauna population. For help, contact your local Turtle Club, Herpetological Society, Wildlife rehabilitator or your local animal shelter.

6. Get Turtles out of U.S. Live Animal Markets. Turtles are among the most popular offerings at live animal markets in the United States. They suffer terrible abuse in filthy, neglectful conditions, and are slaughtered by being cut apart while conscious. The vast majority of market turtles are taken from the wild, contributing to declining U.S. turtle populations. Tell state wildlife agencies that you’re concerned about the increasing collection of wild turtles to supply animal markets in the United States and abroad (mostly in Asia).

7. Say NO to turtle racing. Turtle racing is an event that is often held for the entertainment of young children at fairs, picnics, rodeos and socials across the U.S. usually without knowing what harm they are doing to the local turtle population as well as to the individual turtles. Turtles are found and collected in the wild and the overwhelming majority is picked up off of the roads. These “collectors” often exceed their legal limit of turtles. Turtles are piled up in five gallon buckets or cardboard boxes for a time ranging from several days to several weeks without food or water. As a result the turtles are under enormous amount of stress and sometimes covered with urine and feces which could spread disease among the turtles.

8. Don’t Mess with Texas. Pollution makes its way into bodies of water and wild areas, poisoning turtles and destroying their habitats. Always properly dispose of any hazardous materials such as paint or oil. Garbage, such as plastic bags, kills many pond turtles and sea turtles that either ingest it or become entangled in it. Reduce the amount of garbage you produce, recycle, and dispose of it properly.

9. Spread the Word. Educate others about the importance of protecting turtles from commercial exploitation and abuse in your community and throughout the world. Be a voice for turtles.

10. Join and/or support turtle conservation and educational organizations. You can find and join local Turtle & Tortoise Club/society like DFW Turtle & Tortoise club www.dfwttc.org so you can connect with others with great knowledge about chelonians and help with local efforts to protect turtles. Many other organizations like TSA - Turtle Survival Alliance and World Chelonian Trust www.chelonia.org have a great resources and extensive information about captive care and conservational issues.

References:

1. Box Turtle Partnership of Texas [BTPT] articles by Michael Smith

2. World Chelonian Trust – www.chelonia.org

3. Humane Society of the United States

4. Turtle Racing in U.S.A. by Alex Heeb

Barbara Dillard is founder of DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club, Member of DFW Herpetological Society, Member of World Chelonian Trust, and partner of BTPT

Welcome to DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club

2007-08-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

DFW Turtle & Tortoise Club is a great group to exchange ideas and information to create a better understanding of the care of our shelled friends in the Dallas – Fort Worth climate (but not exclusively).

Come and join us: Feel free to invite anyone who might be interested.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DFWTurtleandTortoiseClub/

Or contact us at:
DFWTurtleandTortoiseClub-owner@yahoogroups.com
or urbanveggie@yahoo.com

Our monthly meetings are so far all around the DFW metroplex. Announcements of location and time are always made in advance on our yahoo group