It’s the last day of #WildTurtleWeek, and we’ve loved sharing all about wild turtles with you this week! Today, we want to highlight why keeping wild turtles thriving in the wild is so important. You’ve seen how turtles play key roles in their ecosystems, how essential they are to healthy environments, and the many threats they are facing that are leading to their global decline. Every turtle counts, and we want to make sure that wild turtles stay in the wild. Each year, well-meaning people remove turtles from the wild, whether they think it is an orphaned hatchling that they should care for, or to take home as a pet. To help reduce further population declines, wild turtles need to stay where they are, and we do our best to engage in their conservation. And, you can too. Being a good turtle neighbor to wild turtles will lead to a better future for both turtles and humans alike. Shown in this clip is a juvenile Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata). This species was once widespread across its range but is now classified as Endangered. If you come across a wild Spotted Turtle in your yard, the best thing to do is simply let it continue on its way—it likely calls a nearby wetland home. Here are a few ways you can be a good turtle neighbor: 🛣️ Help a turtle cross the road When it’s safe for you to do so, use our tips to help a turtle safely on its way to avoid a grisly end. 🌱 Plant Native Plants: Choose native vegetation for your landscaping which provides food, shelter, and nesting sites for turtles and other wildlife. 📖 Spread the word: Share your knowledge and passion for turtle-friendly practices with friends, family, and neighbors. 🚫 Don’t remove animals from the wild: Every turtle in a population is important to that population’s survival. The removal of just a few individuals could alter its long-term survivorship. Thank you for shell-abrating with us this week! We hope you learned something new about wild turtles, and your role in helping them thrive. 🎥: Elena Duran @parcconserve #EveryTurtleCounts (fb)

Turtles aren’t just cool to look at—they play key roles in our ecosystems, and without them, we’d be out more than just a cute face. The theme for today’s #WildTurtleWeek celebration is #TurtlePower: how turtles play key roles in their ecosystems. We’re taking a closer look at the Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii), a menacing-looking turtle that actually contributes to maintaining balance and biodiversity in freshwater habitats. Most people know this turtle as an ambush predator that uses its large, sharp jaws and worm-like appendage on its tongue to lure unsuspecting prey into its mouth. But, it’s also a major scavenger, meaning it searches out and feeds on dead and decaying animals, keeping waterways clean and recycling nutrients back into the environment. This turtle also helps control populations of invasive species by preying on non-native fish, which can outcompete native species. To support conservation of this species, we conduct long-term population studies on Alligator Snapping Turtles in the Greater Houston Metropolitan area, led by Eric Munscher. At one of the smaller study sites in Houston, Eric recently captured three turtles that had already been marked—meaning we had encountered and documented them before. These studies grant us a bigger picture on the population of this species, allowing us to know and implement the best conservation strategies to keep this turtle thriving in the wild. Pictured: Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable 📸: Eric Munscher Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation #TurtlesOfInstagram #AlligatorSnappingTurtle #SnappingTurtle #TurtleSurvival #TurtleConservation #WildlifeConservation #TurtleSurvivalAlliance #ProtectAndPreserve #ZeroExtinctions #Turtle #Turtles #Conservation #Endangered #EndangeredSpecies #SeaTurtles #WildTurtles #AlligatorSnappingTurtle #TurtleSurvival #TurtleConservation #WildTurtleWeek #TurtlePower #EveryTurtleCounts #SeaTurtleWeek (fb)