Category: Turtles & Tortoises Information & News
New Limits In Effect On Native Herp Possession In South Carolina
The state of South Carolina has announced new limits on the possession, collection and transfer of the state's native reptiles and amphibians.
The la [...]
Wild Turtles In South Carolina Now Protected From Poaching
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill last week that bans the trade of the state’s native turtles, hopefully ending poaching of these repti [...]
California Desert Tortoise Granted Temporary Endangered Species Status
The Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) has been granted temporary endangered species status by the California Fish and Game Commission. The c [...]
Researchers Track Sea Turtle Poachers With 3-D Printed Eggs
Sea turtle poaching is a big problem throughout much of the world where the reptiles lay their eggs, so researchers at the University of Kent in Engla [...]
Desert Tortoise Survives Not One, But Two Utah Wildfires
A Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) was observed during a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources fire destruction survey in southern Utah with [...]
Colorado Police Officer Helps Turtle Cross The Road
Officers with the Fort Collins Police Services in Fort Collins, CO happened upon a wayward snapping turtle on a busy roadway. The police officer caref [...]
Researchers Return Box Turtles To The Wild Via “Soft-Pen” Release
When turtles are taken illegally from the wild, they can’t readily be returned, because they usually don’t survive. Turtles generally have a known ran [...]
Captive Breeding Program For The Spotted Turtle Launched In Ohio
The spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, and is under review for protections under the Endangered Species Ac [...]
Once Functionally Extinct Burmese Roofed Turtle Now Number More Than 1,000
The Burmese roofed turtle (Batagur trivittata), a river turtle native to Burma, now known as Myanmar and other rivers in Asia was thought to be extinc [...]
Gopher Tortoise Conservation Plan Updated And Announced By USDA
The United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service will continue its conservation efforts of the gopher tortoise (Go [...]
Florida FWC Traps 100-Pound Suwannee Alligator Snapping Turtle
Biologists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute were checking traps last week that were set for the Suwannee alligator snapping turtle [...]
Florida Residents Should Be On The Lookout For Nesting Turtles And Turtle Nests
If you live in the state of Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wants you to know that it is turtle nesting season. The FWC [...]
Dehydrated Box Turtle Found Painted With Nail Polish and Glitter Dies
An eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) that was found dehydrated with its shell painted with nail polish and glitter has died. The turtle [...]
Sonoran Desert Tortoise Under Consideration For ESA Protections, Again
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2015 decided against protecting the Sonoran desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) under the Endangered Species Act [...]
15 Española Island Tortoises Sent Home After 55 Year Successful Breeding Program
A Galapagos tortoise breeding program that launched at the end of John F. Kennedy's presidency has ended, and all 15 of the Galapagos tortoises (Chelo [...]
Buffalo Zoo Wants Stolen Red-Footed Tortoise Returned
Someone stole the Buffalo Zoo's resident red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria), and the zoo is hoping that she will be returned safely. Red, as [...]
53-Year Old Tortoise Whose Owner Died of COVID19 Gets Adopted
Ms. Jennifer had celebrated her 53rd birthday when she was adopted. [...]
Researchers Describe New Mata Mata Turtle Species
The turtles diverged during the Miocene period, about 13 million years ago. [...]
COVID-19 Lockdowns Beneficial To Nesting Sea Turtles
The effects of stay at home orders are having beneficial effects for sea turtle nestings as beaches become devoid of human life. [...]
During COVID-19 Lockdown, South American River Turtle At Emperor Valley Zoo Lays Eggs On Land
Zookeepers believe because of the lack of noise due to the lockdown, the turtle laid her eggs on land instead of water. [...]
Due to COVID-19 Lockdown, Satellite-Tracking Equipped Juvenile Green Sea Turtles Released By USCG
Three six-month-old green sea turtle outfitted with satellite tracker were released by the U.S. Coast Guard. [...]
California Desert Tortoise Needs Stronger Protections, Conservation Group Says
It is speculated that there are more desert tortoises in captivity than in the wild. [...]
West Virginia May Ban Collection of Box Turtles, Hognose Snakes, Other Reptiles
State law currently allows the collection of four eastern box turtles. [...]
Seized Indian Star Tortoises Tagged And Released Back Into Wild
The reptiles were seized from smugglers in Singapore back in 2018. [...]
