The Dallas Green Zine

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 http://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 http://ww.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 or 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 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.

Despite the stories that come out this time of year of pets (and children!) being found dead in cars, it seems that some people still don’t get it.

Don’t leave your pet or child in a heated car when the temperature is in the 60s or higher, even if the windows are open. If the outside temperature is 79 F, the temperature can climb to 90 degrees in the car in the shade or 140 F in the sun. Even being in the car for more than 5 minutes can be too long.

Also, leaving the air conditioning on is no guarantee… Last year a TX police officer left his dog in the car with the air conditioning running. The air conditioner stopped running,  and the dog was found dead.

Animals are at high risk from heat because they are do not sweat like we do. Dogs can only cool themselves by panting and by sweating through their paws. If they have only overheated air to breathe, they can collapse, and suffer brain damage and possibly die of heatstroke.

Keep this in mind as you’re taking your dog on trips. Always bring water for them. Plus, jogging through the park might be fine for you but it might be too much for your dog.

And one heat-related note from paw-rescue.org:

“Don’t let dogs ride loose in pick-up truck beds. The hot metal can burn a dog’s paws, the sun and flying debris can hurt the dog, the dog can accidentally be thrown out of the truck if the brakes are suddenly applied, and the dog can jump out if scared or upon seeing something interesting to chase.”

THE CIRCUS IS CRUEL
Excerpt from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)

Circuses are considered one of the oldest forms of entertainment, and the ASPCA has been working to ensure protection for the animals used in them since the late 19th century. And today, as back then, whenever the circus comes to New York City, ASPCA humane law enforcement agents are on hand to inspect the conditions under which the animals are kept. And while we know that most people go to the circus because they love animals, what they don’t realize is that they are supporting an industry that engages in animal cruelty.  

Then…

By the 1950s, circus folk were just beginning to consider animals’ psychological and physical needs, but in the early days of the ASPCA, handlers unilaterally relied on intimidation, fear and no less than torture to manipulate their charges both under the big top and behind the scenes. Handlers in P.T. Barnum’s circus commonly used the “burning method” to subdue animals, and in 1879 ASPCA founder Henry Bergh arrested a trainer for thrusting a hot poker up an elephant’s trunk. Housing conditions were deplorable, too, and Barnum’s menagerie of wild animals had succumbed to flames three times before the showman finally followed Bergh’s suggestions to expand and strengthen the cages, limit the use of flammable straw bedding, and outfit Madison Square Garden with every fire-proofing device of the day.   

…and Now

Today, we are concerned with humane training methods, issues of transport and the inherent cruelty involved in forcing captive wildlife to perform. According to accounts by several former Ringling Bros. employees and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), elephants who perform in Ringling Bros. circuses are routinely kept in chains for as long as 23 hours a day from the time they are babies-and are repeatedly beaten with sharp bullhooks. Documentation from a USDA investigation found that Ringling Bros. inflicted large wounds on baby elephants during a process in which the animals, less than two years old, were forcibly removed from their mothers. In the wild, baby elephants are not weaned until they are about four years old. Females stay with their mothers and the rest of their social units for their entire lives. All of this treatment violates the law, and constitutes cruelty. It is time to end this archaic practice. 

What You Can Do

• Don’t go to the circus-unless it’s one that doesn’t feature any animal performers. Tell your friends, family and co-workers not to attend the circus, either.  
• When Ringling Bros. is in the area, write a letter to the editor of the local paper explaining why the circus should not be supported.
• Contact the venue that will be hosting Ringling Bros.’ show and ask them to withdraw the invitation or, at the very least, not to invite them back next year.
• Talk to your kids about why circuses are cruel. Visit our children’s website, ASPCA Animaland, for information about circuses that’s written especially for kids.    

ASPCA Position

The ASPCA is opposed to using wild or exotic (nonnative wild) animals, whether taken from the wild or captive-bred, in circuses, carnivals and other traveling animal shows because of the stress, cruelty and physical, social and psychological deprivations that the animals inevitably suffer, many as a direct result of being on the road much of the year.

To view a video in which the ASPCA’s Lisa Weisberg discusses the suit against Ringling Bros. in a 2006 interview with KTVU News, go to:  http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_circuses 

If you want to do something about this, support the ASPCA or join the protest here in Dallas against Ringling Brothers & Barnum Bailey Circus being held from August 1 - August 8, 2007. For more information, click here.



 

 

 

[Most of this article was written by Heather Lowe, with a few added clarifications by the Dallas Green Zine.] 

The stability of native turtle populations in Texas is being threatened by commercial interests that are collecting the turtles and exporting them for food to Asia. Please join the efforts to urge the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt a ban on the commercial collection of native Texas turtles and other nongame species. (This ban was proposed by the Commission in April.) Please click here by May 23, 2007 and let the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission know that you agree with this critical piece of legislation!

Background:
The ban will affect multiple species that are nongame; however, the greatest protection it will provide is for turtles, because native turtles are being hunted commercially to satisfy changing food tastes in Asia.

Recent social changes in China have created a new middle class that is eager to pay top dollars for turtle meat, which is considered to be a Chinese delicacy. As a result, demand has skyrocketed and turtles in China and neighboring Southeast Asian countries have been virtually wiped out. Turtle farming is beginning to take hold in China, but cannot yet meet the market’s demand. So, the market is reaching out to other parts of the world, particularly North America where commerce and shipment capabilities already exist to ship turtles directly to Asia.

Here at home:
Most Texas turtles are currently classified as non-game species, which means there are no limitations on the numbers that can be harvested from the wild. There are a few individuals in Texas who are taking advantage of the lack of regulation and have made a business of supplying Texas turtles to the Asian food market. One trapper in particular has actively recruited and formed a “co-op” of 450 trappers throughout the state that helps him meet (self-reported) Asian contract quotas that exceed 300,000 turtles each year.

The human element:
Turtles are being sent not only to food markets in Asia, but also (in much smaller numbers) to Asian supermarkets in Texas. Some of these turtles are being trapped in bodies of water in which the fish have been deemed unsuitable for consumption due to high levels of heavy metals such as Mercury, PCBs, pesticides and other dangerous chemicals. Turtles are much longer-lived than fish, and therefore stand to accumulate many more toxins in their tissue over a lifetime, potentially posing a major health risk to the families who are purchasing their meat.

Key points:

• Export data confirms that more than 250,000 wild-caught turtles were shipped out of D/FW airport alone from 2002 to 2005.
• This kind of harvest is unsustainable based on turtle biology. Very few young turtles survive to adulthood and those that do are late to mature sexually. Turtle populations make up for their losses by living a long time (50-70 years in some cases) and producing young each year. Removing large, mature females from the population – which fetch the most money – is devastating to populations.
• The traps that are used are often dangerous for not only turtles, but other species as well. When not used correctly, there is a high risk of drowning for any animals that enter the traps.
• Currently four species of non-marine turtles in Texas are protected. However, given that many species look similar to one another, there is a potential for misidentification when large shipments of turtles are being sent out of the state. In essence, under the current regulations, there is a potential for protected turtles to be harvested simply because they are getting mixed in with the large numbers of non-protected species.
• It is irresponsible to continue to allow the harvest of Texas turtles for food markets given the potential of contamination and the health risk to the humans that consume them.
• Texas currently has some of the most lenient regulations in the country in regard to the commercial harvest of turtles.
• Given the fact that Asian turtle populations have been virtually eliminated in just 15 to 20 years, it is only reasonable to assume that Texas turtle populations would face the same fate when subjected to the same levels of harvest.

The Good News!
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission (TPWC) has taken a huge step toward banning the commercial harvest of all wild turtles in Texas. In April, the commissioners moved to propose a complete ban, which is now posted for review and available for public comment.  However, the TPWC is under considerable pressure from commercial interests to not uphold this ban.  Allowing the continued commercial collection of red-eared sliders, softshells and snapping turtles from private waters is being considered. However, there is no way to distinguish a turtle trapped in private waters from one trapped in public waters – making this is an unenforceable decision that will continue to drain populations from public waters.  Once private stock ponds are cleared, collectors will most likely turn to public areas such as rivers and streams.

On May 23 and 24, the commissioners will meet again and will review the comments that they have received. This is where you come in! Please click here by May 23 and let the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission know that you agree with this critical piece of legislation! While you’re there, feel free to include some of the key points that you feel most passionately about and please congratulate the commission for taking action on this conservation crisis. Please also forward this message to friends who are passionate about protecting Texas’ wildlife.

Very recently, the U.S. has been losing as much as 70% of its bee population. Among the worst hit places, Texas and parts of the east coast are experiencing losses of 70% and California has seen colonies drop by 30-60%. The phenomenon is also occurring in Europe as well.

Possible Causes

Honey bees are dying in the millions and no one is sure why. The bees are becoming disoriented and not returning to their hives. Scientists are calling this phenomenon ‘Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) A wide range of causes is being considered, everything from a parasite, a virus, bacteria, pesticides, genetically-modified crops… even radiation from cell phones.

Many scientists think that the primary suspects are a parasite, an unknown virus, some kind of bacteria, pesticides, or a combination of two or more of these factors. It may be that one factor weakens the honeybee and the second kills it. The few surviving bees have multiple infections suggesting possibly a problem with the insects’ immune system.

Among the most common pesticide concerns are neonicotinoids, which are widely-used and already known to be poisonous to bees.

Major Agricultural and Business Losses?

According to a recent article in the Economist, “Honey production is worth just $200m a year, but bees pollinate $15 billion-worth of fruit, vegetables and nuts, especially the $2 billion almond business.”

In fact, about one-third of the human diet comes from insect-pollinated plants, and the honeybee is responsible for 80 percent of that pollination, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Among these plants are: apples, nuts, avocados, soybeans, asparagus, broccoli, celery, squash, cucumbers, citrus fruits, peaches, kiwi, pears, pumpkins, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, cantaloupe and other melons. Bees also pollinate alfalfa sprouts for cattle.

For more info, check out these links:

The Flight of the Honeybee: A Mystery That Matters

Honeybees Vanish, Leaving Keepers in Peril

Are GM Crops Killing Bees?

Local beekeepers say drought may be factor in scattered reports of dwindling bee colonies

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. 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.

2. 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.

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. 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 local your 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.

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.

References:

1. Box Turtle Partnership of Texas [BTPT] articles by Michael Smith
2. World Chelonian Trust – www.chelonia.org
2. Humane Society of the United States
3. 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.

You can also visit the DFW Turtle and Tortoise Club.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is cutting and redeploying staff in the National Wildlife Refuge System across the Southwest and Pacific regions of the country, and this includes Texas.

This will result in:  the elimination of environmental education programs for children cuts in endangered species recovery programs reductions in habitat management and law enforcement

According to an Environment News Service article: “Texas will lose 11 percent of the workforce on its 21 national wildlife refuges, which host some one million annual visitors. Under the new plan, wildlife and visitors at seven Texas refuges will have reduced staff or no staff and minimal services.”

The new plan will mean that Southwest refuges will be classified into one of three tiers based on each refuge’s habitat management needs, visitation, and law enforcement requirements.

Tier 1 is composed of focus refuges, which tend to have the largest landholdings, diverse habitats, rare fish and wildlife species and offer extensive visitor services programs. They will be expected to have a full range of staff in a variety of disciplines and will support Tier 2 and Tier 3 stations. Focus Refuges include Laguna Atascosa, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Santa Ana, Aransas, Matagorda Island, Brazoria, San Bernard, Big Boggy, Anahuac, McFaddin, Texas Point, Moody, Attwater Prairie Chicken, and Balcones Canyonlands.

Widow Skimmer Dragonfly - Balcones Canyonlands

Tier 2 are the refuges targeted for staff reductions although some staff will remain to conduct basic refuge management and maintenance. Some visitor services will be offered such as wildlife viewing and interpretation and special events. Tier 2 includes Trinity River, Hagerman, Muleshoe, Caddo Lake and Buffalo Lake.

Image from USFWS Trinity River website.

Tier 3 are the unstaffed refuges and tend to be of a size that does not require extensive habitat manipulation to achieve wildlife objectives. While the refuges may be opened for visitors for special events or for self-directed tours, there will not be staff on-site. Staff from a neighboring Tier 1 or 2 refuge will manage these refuges. Tier 3 includes Little Sandy and Neches River.

For more about what is happening in wildlife refuges around the country, visit here: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2007/2007-03-12-06.asp