Lots of people are terrified of snapping turtles. We get calls throughout the summer from people who want snapping turtles relocated, or even killed, because they’re afraid that these peaceful dinosaurs will eat their kids or pets. But a snapping turtle in your yard isn’t anything to worry about! Snapping turtles don’t eat kids orContinue reading “Snapping Turtles Aren’t Dangerous”
Tag Archives: turtle
All About Cooters
After we admitted Opal, our second river cooter patient, we saw a lot of incredibly immature, suggestive, and even offensive comments. We loved all of them. Yes, there really are turtles called cooters. That’s their actual name. Tennessee has tons of cooters. Specifically, we’re home to the subspecies known as the Eastern river cooter. It’sContinue reading “All About Cooters”
Found an “Orphan” Turtle?
Please don’t “rescue” baby turtles of any kind unless they’re noticeably injured! There is no such thing as an orphan turtle. Unlike mammals, birds, and a couple of reptiles, turtles do not care for their young at all. A mother turtle lays her eggs and never sees them again. Well-meaning people who “rescue” turtles fromContinue reading “Found an “Orphan” Turtle?”
Don’t Move Reptile Eggs
This beautiful Eastern box turtle was spotted laying eggs in Fairfax, Virginia. Fortunately for her, the photographer left her and her eggs alone. Many other reptile moms aren’t so lucky: often, a person will find reptile eggs and will move them either indoors or to a different outdoor spot. This is often fatal for theContinue reading “Don’t Move Reptile Eggs”
Trees Don’t Litter
If you’d ever seen how quickly our raccoon patients can devour twenty pounds of acorns or forage through six inches of fallen leaves for bugs, you’d understand exactly why there’s no need to “clean up” the gifts trees leave us in autumn! Many native animals in our area cannot survive winter without the bounty ofContinue reading “Trees Don’t Litter”
Aquatic Turtles and Butt Breathing
Snapping turtles, like all aquatic turtles outside the tropics, have to hibernate underwater every winter. They don’t have gills and can’t rise to the surface while asleep for a full season, and may even be completely locked under a thick layer of ice. So how do they breathe? Through their butts! If you want toContinue reading “Aquatic Turtles and Butt Breathing”
Reptiles Feel Pain, Even If They Don’t Show It
Unless someone is a total sicko, they’ll almost always rush to the vet as soon as they can if they find an injured puppy. Our brains are full of specialized cells, called mirror neurons, that create empathy when we see an animal that expresses pain the way we do. So if a puppy is crying,Continue reading “Reptiles Feel Pain, Even If They Don’t Show It”
Don’t Move a Box Turtle Somewhere “Better”
Have you ever seen a box turtle in a busy or barren area and decided to move it elsewhere? You’re not alone. Many box turtles get moved by well-meaning people who want to help them find a better place to live than a suburban lawn near a heavily trafficked road. The problem is that turtlesContinue reading “Don’t Move a Box Turtle Somewhere “Better””
Tennessee’s Alligator Snapping Turtles
Did you know that alligator snapping turtles are the only turtle species that carries its own fishing lure? When an alligator snapping turtle opens its mouth and wiggles its pink, worm-like lure, fish come from far and wide and wander straight into the turtle’s mouth. This enormous creature– not to be confused with it’s smallerContinue reading “Tennessee’s Alligator Snapping Turtles”
Never Paint a Live Turtle’s Shell!
Painting a turtle’s shell, whether the turtle is a pet or a wild animal, is an act of cruelty that causes the animal very serious harm. Turtle shells are not “dead”— they are part of the animal’s living organ system. Turtles absorb sunlight through their shells and convert it to vitamin D. When the shellContinue reading “Never Paint a Live Turtle’s Shell!”
