Out of Sight: Why Most People Never See a Wood Turtle
With a distinct black head, vibrant orange legs, and a shell that is often patterned with brilliant yellow spots and striations, you might think a Wood Turtle would be easy to spot. Specializing in river valley habitats, Wood Turtles are quite rare across much of their range, but even in the few remaining places where […]
The Success of Red-eared Sliders Comes at the Expense of Native Turtles
Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity facing our native plants and animals today. While not every exotic species moved to a new region by humans becomes problematic to native biodiversity, it is difficult to draw a line where a plant, animal, or pathogen is considered invasive vs. just non-native. Most species do […]
The Big Four of Turtle Conservation
If you like turtles, as most of us do, we would like to tell you about four species in urgent need of our help. Wood Turtles, Bog Turtles, Blanding’s Turtles, and Spotted Turtles are all in sharp decline, and to us, they are the Big Four of Turtle Conservation in the Northeastern United States. Although […]
Dekay’s Brownsnake: One of America’s most Misidentified Snakes
The Brownsnake is a harmless snake common in the Eastern United States, but their secretive nature means few people ever see one, or know what they are.
What is the Difference Between Turtles and Tortoises? Frogs and Toads? Newts and Salamanders?
One of the questions I am asked most often during presentations and workshops is, “what is the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?” Or for that matter, what is the difference between frogs and toads, and newts vs. salamanders? These questions are sort of like being asked what the difference is between sports and […]