Wildlife

Kingsnake Laying Eggs at CNC

Urban Kings: Project Update

The Dangers of Landscape Netting in your Garden

By Samantha Kennett, Wildlife Technician at CNC
July 28, 2020

On June 26, 2020, technicians for the Urban Kings Project received a call from a concerned community member. They were excited to report the Kingsnake they’d found in their yard, but troubled by the fact that it was trapped in plastic landscape netting.



This individual was rushed to the Chattahoochee Nature Center Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic to remove the netting and assess the deep wounds created by the rubbing and constriction of the plastic netting. Upon further examination, it was determined that this snake was not only female, but gravid and full of eggs.

X-ray taken of CNC rehab case 20-0111. Notice the misshapen egg that was constricted by the plastic netting.

She was continuously monitored for any change in her condition while both CNC and the Urban Kings Team remained hopeful that she would survive laying her eggs. After 11 patient days, Kingsnake 20-0111 laid all 17 of her eggs successfully. Upon the writing of this article, her condition is continuing to improve at CNC’s wildlife clinic while her eggs are being carefully incubated by the Urban Kings team to ensure the best chance of hatch success.

Kingsnake 20-0111 safely laying her eggs at the CNC Wildlife Clinic.

For this Kingsnake, her story has a happy ending. However, this is not always the case. This year alone, the Urban Kings team has received no fewer than a dozen reports of Kingsnakes stuck in plastic landscape netting, and Kingsnakes aren’t alone. This material is a death sentence for any snake if undiscovered, especially in these intense Georgia summers. Small mammals, birds, and sometimes even deer can fall trap to this garden protecting material. Just this month, CNC’s wildlife clinic received a Red-bellied Woodpecker whose neck and feet were ensnared in the netting.

Red-bellied woodpecker brought to CNC tangled in plastic landscape netting.

This material is often used for large-scale erosion control as well as small-scale application in protecting produce and plants in backyard gardens. As you make plans to protect your garden from birds and deer this summer, consider looking into alternative options. One alternative is an insect mesh which has significantly smaller holes so that snakes and birds are less likely to get stuck. There is ongoing research in erosion control blankets to find better and cost-effective solutions to this human-wildlife conflict.

If you’re out getting your nature on and you find an animal trapped in landscape netting, please contact the CNC Wildlife Clinic immediately at 770-992-2055 ext. 239. If your trapped animal happens to be a Kingsnake, please contact the Urban Kings Project at the contact information below.

UrbanKingsJune2020Blog

Urban Kings: A Citizen Science Project

Report your Kingsnakes!

Written by Samantha Kennett, Wildlife Technician
June 16, 2020

Citizen Science. It comes in a multitude of forms. You can participate in bird counts with the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, survey for frogs with the Metro Atlanta Amphibian Monitoring Program, even help classify galaxies for Zooniverse. If you haven’t heard yet, there is another local project you can help with, and you can even participate from your very own backyard.

Urban Kings: A Citizen Science Project

Neighborhood kids learning about their backyard Kingsnake with Urban Kings biologist, Bryan Hudson.

The Urban Kings Project is a citizen science endeavor working to understand Eastern Kingsnakes in Metro Atlanta and how they are affected by urbanization. Urban Kings is creating a population distribution database filled with Kingsnake sightings. This is where YOU can help.

Report your Kingsnakes!

Next time you see your backyard Kingsnake, pick up the phone and give Urban Kings a call! Your sighting will go into a population database that helps see where Kingsnakes still exist overtime as urbanization continues to expand. You can then proudly call yourself a citizen scientist!

CNC docent, Sheri Forman, with her reported backyard Kingsnake

The Urban Kings Project would not be possible without the continued help of community members and volunteers. We’d like to take this time to highlight just a few of those exceptional folks and ask them some questions about participating in citizen science.

Meet Robert and Becky Carlin: 16-Year-Old Eagle Scout and his Awesome Mom

Robert and Becky have been helping with the Urban Kings Project since day one. Always happy and excited to assist, this pair has dedicated countless hours to helping respond to Kingsnake sightings. Robert has donated his time to other snake projects, and even completed his Eagle Scout project on CNC grounds! Check out what they have to say about citizen science.

Robert Carlin

16-year-old Eagle Scout, Robert Carlin, holding a juvenile Eastern Kingsnake

What does citizen science mean to you?
To me, citizen science means a project that gets normal people who may have never been able to help with a research project to get their feet wet in the world of science in a way that they feel comfortable with.

What kind of impact do you feel like you’re making in helping with the Urban Kings Project?
I think that I am making an impact by helping with the Urban Kings Project by being able to work with a project that will be able to help the conservation of not only one of the most interesting snake species in Georgia, but also other animals that have been affected by urbanization.

Have you helped with other citizen science projects?
Yes, I also help with Project Pine Snake, which works with pine snakes in the southeastern mountains.

Why should you participate in citizen science?
You should participate in citizen science because it is a way for you to help make an impact in conservation and is a great way to get involved in your community.

Why do YOU choose to participate in citizen science?
I chose to participate in citizen science because my career goal is to be a herpetologist, so I wanted to get some experience working in field research to see if that was what I wanted to do. I chose the projects that I did because I got the chance to meet the leads for the projects, Samantha Kennett and Bryan Hudson, and was really impressed by their work, so it was an obvious choice when they asked me if I wanted to help.

Becky Carlin

Becky and Robert Carlin at a presentation on Project Pine Snake, another snake project where Robert volunteers his time.

What does citizen science mean to you?
Assisting in helping professionals gather data in our community. Helping others become aware of what all is in our community and how science affects us all on a daily basis.

What kind of impact do you feel like you’re making in helping with the Urban Kings Project?
I hope we are helping ease the burden of the data collection process. It is so easy for me and Robert run out to help capture a snake to aid in the Urban Kings research. I think every call we’ve responded to has been within 3 miles of our house. Bryan and Samantha are so busy that I enjoy being able to volunteer and help them out any way we can.

Have you helped with other citizen science projects?
No.

Why should you participate in citizen science?
To better understand our community and all the aspects in it.

Why do YOU choose to participate in citizen science?
I guess you could say Robert has been a good influence on me. I enjoy seeing how excited he is when we capture a king snake and his enthusiasm and passion for helping educate people on how beneficial snakes are to our environment. This particular project is near and dear to me due to my son’s interest in herpetology. I have always loved animals, including snakes. I hope in our small way we are helping snakes be better understood.

 

Meet Emily Alderman

Emily attended an Urban Kings outreach program at East Roswell library this spring where she met the Urban Kings team. Both she and her dad were interested in the project and have a love and respect for the snakes that share their neighborhoods. Emily’s dad had already reported more than one Kingsnake to the project! Emily has given her time, mileage, and enthusiasm to the project. Check out what she has to say about participating in citizen science.

Emily relocating an eastern rat snake from her apartment complex to greenspace nearby.

What does citizen science mean to you?
Citizen science, to me, means taking an active role in my immediate environment to help improve the world on a larger scale. The professionals can’t be everywhere at once, so that’s where we citizens can step in to help. Being able to collaborate with professional scientists and wildlife experts is such a thrill!

What kind of impact do you feel like you’re making in helping with the Urban Kings Project?
Being able to work with the Urban Kings project has allowed me to further explore my passions for herpetology and wildlife conservation. Gathering data on such an incredible animal not only gives me the opportunity to help educate others on the benefits of Kings, but help to change misconceptions about snakes and reptiles in general. The data collected which shows where these snakes are found, how developed the location is, and where the snakes travel is crucial for this species to survive. It gives me so much hope that future land developments can be more mindful of Kings’ presence and movement patterns, and help create a more sustainable environment for them long term.

Have you helped with other citizen science projects?
This is the first citizen science project in which I have had the pleasure of participating, but it has made me all the more passionate and eager to seek out more opportunities to explore, gather data, and improve the world around me.

Why should you participate in citizen science?
All humans hold the responsibility to educate themselves about their environment, and we should all strive to make the world a better place for all of its inhabitants. Whether human or animal, we are all on this planet together, and learning how to cohabitate is critical.

Why do YOU choose to participate in citizen science?
I choose to participate in citizen science because I love learning, exploring, and educating others on the wonders of our world. Animals don’t have a voice, but this project explores everything that they ARE telling us. This is an incredible project, and I am so thankful to be a part of it!

 

Science is all around us, and you don’t need a lab coat to contribute. So go outside, breathe in the fresh air around you, listen to the birds, and keep your eyes out for your neighborhood Kingsnake. Today might be the day you become a citizen scientist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Flower Power of Pollinators

The secret message in the color of flowers

By Liz Platner, Outreach and Partnerships Coordinator
Originally Posted on March 23, 2018
Updated on June 12, 2020

You may think that roses are red and violets are blue, but that’s because your eyes are human eyes. If you were a pollinator, you would see there’s a secret message in the colors of flowers. To understand why flowers contain secret messages, we need to understand pollination.

Flowers have male parts called stamens, which are the long thin filaments topped with the anther that produces pollen. In order to create seeds, the pollen must be transferred to the sticky stigma which is at the top of the female pistil. Once the pollen grains are on the stigma, pollen tubes can grow down into the ovule and a seed is created. These seeds can grow into new plants, or, in some cases, the ovule develops into fruit and we get to eat it. This explains why flowers are critical to the survival of many plant species.

Wind and insects, especially bees, flies and beetles, are the primary pollinators and there a few other kinds of animals as well. Pollination can occur by water, but it is very rare. Since it’s so important to plant survival, some flowers have embedded color patterns to help pollinators find their nectar more easily. As the pollinators feed on nectar, they get pollen grains stuck on them, which they then transfer to the next flower. These color patterns are called nectar guides, and they benefit the plant by facilitating cross-pollination.

Some of these nectar guides are made of colors in the ultraviolet range, not visible to the human eye but obvious to insects. Our eyes can see colors from red to violet wavelengths of light. Insects such as bees can’t see as many colors, but they can see orange through violet, plus ultraviolet wavelengths of light.

So next time you look at a sunflower or a pansy, know that there are hidden messages for pollinators right in front of your eyes.

Red Tailed Hawk

Protecting raptors and other wildlife near roads

Think about the food chain all around us

Written by Christie Hill, Naturalist Coordinator
June 9, 2020

It seems like we have come a long way since people casually tossed trash from cars. However, now that we understand more about what things are biodegradable we are prone to think less of tossing an apple core, banana peel, or french fry out of our moving vehicle.

Please don’t!

Think about the food chain all around us. Small mammals feed many of our snakes and raptors and even the insects feed amphibians, other reptiles, and songbirds. 

Where can you find these small animals? Anywhere they can find food.

Hopefully we find all of these animals somewhere in our own habitats, to reveal that we live in a healthy ecosystem. Rodents, opossums, raccoons and many animals especially love people scraps, but we don’t want to encourage them to depend on us for food. Also, anytime they wander close to a road to find food there is a danger that they may be hit by a vehicle.

Image by Dani Pierce

Raptors also depend on those animals for their prey. These birds typically do not hesitate to cross a road to capture a moving animal and are unaware of what is coming.

This is just one more small way we can help to protect the wildlife who share the areas around us.

>> If you suspect an animal is injured, you can call the CNC Wildlife Department at 770-992-2055, press 4. You may also visit AHNow.org to locate a licensed rehabilitator in your area. The Animal Help Now website and phone app covers the entire country so it is handy when travelling.

Other Resources:
How to assist wildlife and if it is needed

Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Wildlife Department

CNC’s Wildlife Department Facebook Page

What to do if you find a baby animal – Part 1

What to do if you find a baby animal – Part 2

650 x 400 Eastern Box Turtle

Moving turtles safely across roads

What to do if you see a turtle on the road

Written by Christie Hill, Naturalist Coordinator and Kathryn Dudeck, Wildlife Director
June 9, 2020

Turtles are amazing animal ambassadors at the Chattahoochee Nature Center and in their honor we wanted to share what to do if you see a turtle trying to cross a road. The Wildlife Department at the Chattahoochee Nature Center saw 250 rehabilitation cases for turtles in 2019. 

Turtles are often seen crossing roads as they move within their home range. It is best to not interfere with their progress, but if you see a turtle crossing the road what should you do?

  1. Always make sure you pull over safely.
  2. Pick up the turtle with 2 hands to support the top and bottom shells.
  3. Move the turtle in the direction it is heading and well off the road. If you move the turtle to where it started, it will most likely turn around and cross the same road.
  4. Wash your hands at the first opportunity.

Notes:

>> Do not remove a turtle from the area you found it. Many have excellent homing instincts and will try to return to their territory.

>>Do not attempt to pick up a snapping turtle. They, like other aquatic turtles, will often travel away from water to lay eggs or find new habitat. Using your car’s floor mat, they will often bite it and you can gently drag them in the direction they are facing.

>> If you suspect the turtle is injured, you can call the CNC Wildlife Department at 770-992-2055, press 4. You may also visit AHNow.org to locate a licensed reptile rehabilitator in your area. The Animal Help Now website and phone app covers the entire country so it is handy when travelling.

Other Resources:
How to assist wildlife and if it is needed

Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Wildlife Department

CNC’s Wildlife Department Facebook Page

What to do if you find a baby animal – Part 1

What to do if you find a baby animal – Part 2

birding 2

Get started with birding

Backyard birding makes it easy to connect with nature

Written by Jana Pearce, Visitor Experience Manager


With the onset of social distancing and working from home has come a hidden opportunity for us to reengage with old hobbies and discover new ones.

I began birding as a way to spend time with my dad, who’s been at it for over 40 years and consistently blows me away with his mental lexicon of songs, markings, and bird behaviors. The sheer amount of natural history surrounding birds felt overwhelming at first, but the longer I observed, the more I began to connect with these creatures who can be hidden in plain sight. I realized that birding is about the journey, and that I should just focus on having fun and enjoying the glimpse into a world that can be mystifying, amusing, and even charming. The know-how will come over time!

 

Below are some tips on how you can get started at home:

Why birding?

Birding can appeal to all sorts of people. Many like it because it helps them feel connected to nature, or to something larger than themselves. There are many popular community science projects that allow people to come together and make a difference in understanding and protecting birds. Check out more info at Atlanta Audubon’s Community Science page. Others like the prospect of creating a “life list” and seeing how many birds they can rack up over a life time.

How do I attract bird to your backyard?

All living organisms need four things to be successful in their habitats: food, water, shelter, and space. You can provide food by setting up a bird feeder or planting your backyard with native, bird-attracting plants. To provide water, consider setting up a bird bath if there’s not a water source near your home. To provide shelter, you can install a bird box, or (again) do some planting. The more habitat types you have (bushes, tall trees, etc), the wider variety of species you’ll attract. Space simply means you’ll only attract so many birds to your backyard because it can only support so many (imagine an entire school of children trying to come have lunch in your kitchen!)

How do I clean and maintain my feeders?

Be mindful that feeders can attract predators and spread disease if not placed well and maintained.

To protect from predators: try to place your feeder in a spot that has some protection from bird of prey who may be hunting from above. You’ll also want to monitor your feline friends if they’re allowed to be outside near your feeder.

Also consider placing your feeder away from windows, as birds often collide with them when all they can see is reflections of the surrounding flora.

To prevent the spread of disease: wash your feeder every two weeks, or at the very least between seasons. Start with soapy warm water, then use at 1:10 water bleach solution. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry completely before refilling.

How do you identify the birds you see?

When birding, use your sense of sight, sound, and curiosity to help notice characteristics that will help you identify the bird.

  • Distinctive markings – look for colors or patterns, like a solid white bar around the eye, or a “cap” of a certain color.
  • Where is it? On the ground? At the tippy-top of a tree? Is it alone or in a group? This can often help you narrow down between possibilities.
  • What’s it doing? Certain behaviors can be very characteristic of different types of birds. For example, phoebes are usually bobbing their tails.
  • Songs and calls – close your eyes and try to focus on the sounds its making. This one can be tricky, but birding by ear can become a very valuable skill for a birder. Brush up on your songs, then test your skills while also helping the Cornell Lab of Ornithology improve their educational services.
wildlife northside sammy stork_kingfisher costume_timber ridge wildlife class pitcure

Timber Ridge ES gets visit from Kingfisher, Northside’s Sammy Stork

The Chattahoochee Nature Center would not be able to care for its injured wildlife, educate thousands of schoolchildren, or hold exciting programming without community support. Recently, the community at Timber Ridge Elementary School, in Cobb County just down the road from CNC, showed CNC just how much they care for our work.

The students collected canned goods, gift cards, and more all to donate to CNC’s Wildlife Baby Shower, raising much needed funds for the wildlife department. The effort was organized by Michelle Bonsecour, whose children attend the school.  

 “This past year, I have made CNC a weekly (usually) trip with my son, William,” said Bonsecour. “When we saw the baby shower donation box on one of our rainy day visits, we knew we could help. We realized a lot of people only visit CNC once, and they were unlikely to bring canned goods with them, so we decided to take the fundraiser to Timber Ridge. Alison Dunford (Timber Ridge STEM teacher) was instrumental in letting us bring this to Timber Ridge.”

As a bonus, CNC had just received a large and generous donation of stuffed otters from the Roswell Rotary Club. Everyone who donated to the wildlife department during the month of February could take an otter home with them. For Bonsecour, these toys were a perfect fit for the school.

“The otters were a huge incentive for the kids, for sure, but we also made sure the kids were learning how close the center is and what you do every day,” she said. The school sold hundreds of the otters for donations. 

“We personally LOVE going to CNC after school, no matter the weather, there is something to do and have fun while learning,” Bonseour said. “We absolutely don’t leave the center without having learned something new.”

As thanks for their donations, CNC paid a visit to the school, complete with CNC mascot, Kingfisher, and Sammy the Stork, the mascot of Northside Hospital, along with the entire Wildlife Department staff.

The need for donations and support at the Wildlife Department is constant. Over 600 injured animals come in every year and need food and medical supplies. To help out, click here.

wildlife baby_eve hawk

Visitors, Northside Hospital make for successful wildlife baby shower at CNC

    

ROSWELL, GA. – Visitors to the Chattahoochee Nature Center on February 29 played exciting baby-themed games, such as matching pictures of baby animals to their adults, or guess the animal scat in the diaper. Fun! The day was to support the CNC Wildlife Department’s efforts in rehabilitating injured animals. Check out some photos here.

All told, the Wildlife Department raised over $4,000 from community contributions throughout the month. Add in a dollar-for-dollar match from Northside Hospital and that number doubles. Donations included cash and gift cards, but also cans of wet cat food, bags of dry cat food, cans of various vegetables and bags of “Reptibark,” a reptile bedding. Also, plenty of bottles of laundry detergent.

The day was made possible thanks to a generous gift from Northside Hospital, which matched donations up to $5,000, all to go toward the Wildlife Department. Northside Hospital’s mascot, Sammy the Stork, also came to the event Feb. 29. As the nation’s largest provider of births in the nation, Northside was a perfect choice as partner on the day.

Students from nearby Timber Ridge Middle School also donated hundreds of canned goods and gift cards.

Kathryn Dudeck, CNC’s wildlife director, said she was pleased by the community support for the department.

“We had such an amazing turnout for this day all about wildlife,” said Dudeck. “Through the help of the visitors, donors, and sponsor Northside Hospital, the wildlife department will be well-stocked to help many injured raptors and reptiles this year.”

CNwildlife baby_frank snake_hawkC takes in hundreds of injured animals a year for rehab, with nearly 40 young birds of prey (raptors) and reptiles among them, and hundreds of calls a month from people who have found animals and are looking for advice. The majority of young raptor patients come in due to nest loss, such as from a storm or trees being cut down, and from good Samaritans who might not know when an animal is actually in need of help. Dudeck says it’s best to contact a local rehabber before attempting to “rescue” any animal, especially babies.

With all three full time Wildlife Department staff members licensed for rehabilitation, CNC treats over 600 injured raptors and reptiles each year. If the animals can be released back into the wild, they will be; otherwise they may become resident animal ambassadors on CNC’s grounds for educational purposes. All resident animals at CNC are injured and non-releasable.

For more information about CNC’s wildlife department or to make donations, visit https://www.chattnaturecenter.org/visit/experience/wildlife/

For more information about CNC, visit www.chattnaturecenter.org.

 

About CNC

For over 40 years, the Chattahoochee Nature Center prides itself on connecting metro Atlanta with nature, through education and experiences unlike anywhere else. Sitting on 127 wooded acres on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, CNC offers amazing access to this important water source through guided canoe trips on the river and a river boardwalk. CNC also forms connections in the wider community through animal encounters with rehabilitated wildlife, excitement on the new treetop zipline courses over our ponds, unique yearlong pollinator gardens, unparalleled family events, and more all year long.

To learn more about CNC, its mission and its programming, visit us online at www.chattnaturecenter.org.

urban kings project_diana

The Diana Chronicles: Kingsnake, king snack

The victim, Diana the Kingsnake, May 2019

  When working with wildlife, things don’t always go exactly how you’d expect them. One of the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Wildlife Technicians, Samantha Kennett, stumbled upon a surprising act of nature through her work with the Urban Kings Project.

 

This project is a collaboration between CNC, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Clemson University researchers into the habits and territory of the Kingsnake, a non-venomous snake that has somehow adapted itself to thrive in urban areas. They aim to tag and track these snakes to determine how they are so successful in this man-made environment.


Samantha was working on a snake nicknamed “Diana.” This adult female Kingsnake joined the study back in May 2019. She was tagged with a radio transmitter and released.

Prime suspect, the common snapping turtle. He was found with Diana’s radio transmitter in his stomach.


“When we first found Diana she was basking at the edge of a pond in the afternoon sun, and was released close to the spot she was first located,” said Kennett.


Two weeks later Diana was found in unusual location: about three feet from the edge of that same pond… in the water. Samantha came back with rainboots and made her way into the water, only to kick up “one of the largest common snapping turtles I have ever seen” to the surface of the pond. As the snapping turtle swam away, the sound of Diana’s signal in the receiver grew fainter and fainter.

 

There were a few hours left of daylight, so the Urban Kings team circled the pond to see if maybe, just maybe, they could tell where the turtle went. As luck would have it, the snapper swam directly across the pond and was nestled in the mud not far from dry land. With some serious effort, and lots of mud, they hoisted the unhappy snapper out of the muck and back to CNC for evaluation.

Exhibit A: an x-ray of the snapping turtle’s stomach, showing the radio transmitter.


There were a lot of questions: How did the snapper prey on the Kingsnake? Was she basking at the edge of the pond? Did a hawk strike first then mistakenly drop her in the water? Will the snapper be able to pass the transmitter on its own?


For most of these questions, these are answers we will never know. Only one question was answered. The snapping turtle successfully passed the transmitter in mid-June 2019 and was released shortly after back into his pond.


“Though this was an unhappy ending for Diana, this is part of nature; everything’s got to eat,” said Samantha. “Although we’ve set out to learn about Kingsnakes, we’ve now also collected valuable data on the natural history of snapping turtles, and can note this unique observation. In wildlife work, you never know what you’re going to get.”

 

turtles chained together

A turtle’s shell is more than its home

By Samantha Kennett

CNC Wildlife Technician

 

A common myth regarding turtles is that they can leave their shell for another. However, this is not the case. Did you know that a turtle’s shell is a made of bone and is a part of the turtle’s spine? A turtle’s shell is as much a part of its body as our skeleton is to ours. The shell is made of two pieces, the carapace (top) and the plastron (bottom), which are fused together on each side at what’s called a bridge. The carapace is covered by an outer layer of individual pieces called scoots. These are made of keratin, just like your hair and nails. Who knew you had so much in common with our reptilian neighbors.

Contrary to popular belief, a turtle’s shell is actually a part of the animal, like a bone.

A turtle’s shell is its armor and its ultimate protection from many of the dangers of the world.  But when that strong shell is cracked or broken, it leaves the turtle vulnerable to infection, bacteria, and predation by other animals. Though turtles are resilient, a severe injury to the shell could cost its life. Working as reptile rehabilitators, CNC’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic receives countless injured turtles each year, many of which sustained injuries to their shells often the result of car collisions. CNC relies on a community of good Samaritans to transport these turtles to get them the appropriate care they need.

The reality of wildlife rehab is anything but warm and fuzzy. Fortunately for a couple red-eared sliders at CNC, a good Samaritan was walking the Roswell Boardwalk at just the right time. These turtles were found in the Chattahoochee River with punctured shells and chained together.

Because a turtle’s shell is living bone, any puncture can lead to systemic bacterial, viral, or fungal infections and be deadly if the internal organs are harmed.

“Because the shell is living bone, any puncture can lead to systemic bacterial, viral, and/or fungal infections,” said Kathryn Dudeck, Wildlife Director at CNC. “Additionally, since the organs are not in a fixed position, but instead housed in a thin membrane called the coelom, the organs themselves can be damaged.”

A turtle’s shell is its greatest defense, but once compromised can be a potentially fatal weakness. With the help of the reptile vets at The Veterinary Clinic West in Marietta and the local good Samaritan who found them and brought them to CNC, these two turtles are on the road to recovery. This particular story will conclude with a happy ending, but that is not always the case.

While it may look pretty and harmless, painting a turtle’s shell can be fatal to the animal. They collect energy and vitamins from the sun; painting the shell blocks that.

Less obviously deadly is paint on the turtle’s shell. While it may look funny or cute to paint the shell, as we have learned, the shell is an integrated portion of the animal. They get their Vitamin D from the sun through their shells. The paint blocks this process and can be fatal to the animal.

“Turtles require UV light and specifically UVB wavelength for Vitamin D synthesis needed for bone and shell growth,” said Dudeck. “Unlike mammals and birds, reptiles cannot synthesize their own Vitamin D and must absorb sunlight through their shells. Painting the shell blocks the absorption of UV and can lead to weakened and deformed bones and shell.”

With paint, different removal techniques are used based on the type of paint, and the removal procedure can take several days.

With proper medications and care, a damaged shell can often grow back, though this can take months to years. If you see an injured turtle in the wild please call the Wildlife Clinic at the CNC at 770-992-2055 x239 or find your local rehabilitator at Animal Help Now.

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